The final major of the season looks a compelling affair with Royal Lytham & St Annes hosting the 2026 Open Championship with both Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu both winning two majors apiece this year and looking to sweep this year’s calendar while there are plenty of other challengers knocking at the door. The course has hosted 11 men’s Open Championships while this will be the sixth time it has hosted the women with the likes of Sherri Steinhauer and Annika Sorenstam having won here. Miyu Yamashita is looking to defend the crown she won at Royal Porthcawl last year.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- GIR
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Non-American
Royal Lytham & St Annes features 174 bunkers across the course meaning accuracy tee to green is absolutely critical. Finding greens is without question the top – and only – path to success here with a good putter more than helpful. Americans have won just four of the 26 Open Championships played this century.
Key Correlation Courses/Tournaments
- Scottish Open
- Hanwha Classic
Hyo Joo Kim has been a winning machine this year with four wins in her last 11 tournaments. Her major form has been solid enough with three Top 42 finishes in her four cracks with a 6th at the Chevron her best. She absolutely loves the Open with seven Top 25 finishes from nine outings including Top 15 finishes three of the last four years. Ranks 2nd in GIR, 3rd in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green and 11th in Strokes Gained: Putting. This is her year.
A Charley Hull win would set women’s golf on fire with the popular and feisty Englishwoman well overdue after finishing runner-up in two of the last three years. She is a two-time winner over the last 12 months and has finished Top 16 in three of the four majors this year. Ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Putting while ranks Top 21 in key tee to green stats. Huge hope.
2024 Open Championship winner Lydia Ko loves this tournament, finished T-11 when the tournament was last played here and is in sublime form. She has finished Top 15 at the last two majors and has finished Top 18 in 11 of her last 17 tournaments. She ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 7th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, 12th in GIR and 2nd in Strokes Gained: Putting. She is a huge price this week to give New Zealand both the men’s and women’s Open Championships.
2019 Women’s PGA champion Hannah Green has not been in the best of form, missing the cut at the last two majors, but looks a runner this week. Another knock is her failure to make the cut at the last three Opens but she has a game that is so well suited to here. She ranks Top 10 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Strokes Gained: Tee To Green and GIR while she is 15th in Putting.
Pajaree Anannarukarn comes into this off a very good third in the Women’s Scottish Open where she gained 4.15 shots on the field. She has made three of four cuts in the majors this year with a best T-8 at the Women’s US Open. She ranks 12th in Strokes Gained: Approach. Absolutely worth a ticket at very big odds.
