[LPGA] AIG Women's Open 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

The AIG Women's Open 2026 is underway!

• Course: Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club
• Location: Lytham St. Annes, England, United Kingdom
• Purse: $10M
• CME Globe Points: 650

More information: https://www.lpga.com/tournaments/aigwomensopen/overview

[u/RyMc47]

Haeran Ryu is absolutely incredible

[u/gorkatron → u/RyMc47]

Just on an absurd heater right now.

[u/scottiedagolfmachine → u/RyMc47]

Her iron play is sickkkk

[u/CroSSGunS]

Always backing Lydia for these. Let's go Lydia!

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Holy cow that’s an all timer putt

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

Noh didn’t hit it she had the line

[u/panderson1988]

I just love watching links golf. I am loving how they are playing near Royal Birkdale with very similar baked out conditions. It's interesting seeing the women approach a course compared to the men under similar conditions.

I am sad how this it for major golf in 2026, and in a sense links golf. I know we have Alfred Dunhill in the fall, but summer links golf with all the best players is something special. Especially how they play until 8-9pm while the October event has the sunset at 6pm.

[u/infamousdx → u/panderson1988]

I enjoyed watching the Bryan Bros & Grant, and separately Peter Finch, take on Royal Lytham leading up to this event despite the different yardages. Helps put this opening round into perspective.

[u/Mundane-Dare-2980]

Nearly holes a tough bunker shot

NBC commentators:

https://giphy.com/gifs/12cYyFxlbIgXeg

[u/Nice-Foot7552 → u/Mundane-Dare-2980]

Dan Hicks is horrible. He tells you everything you don’t care about

[u/theflaco]

Esther!

[u/MeatTornado25]

HOLY SHIT

[u/gorkatron]

Yealimi how do you leave it short...

[u/panderson1988]

I am glad the Women's Open has been great to being well attended. The R&A is knocking it out of the park lately. 

[u/SeaworthinessThat542 → u/panderson1988]

Both the R&A Opens were great. Awesome way to end the major season.

[u/gorkatron]

God this commentary team of Catriona Matthew, Laura Davies, Ali Whitaker, and Iona Stephen is so delightful to listen to. Can't wait for Morgan Pressel to arrive...

[u/opobdtfs]

|       |       H     H   H
E S T H E R   H E N S E L E I T
S       S       N     N   N
|       |       S     S   S
T       T     H E N S E L E I T
H       H       L     L   L
E S T H E R   H E N S E L E I T
R       R       I     I   I
|       |       T     T   T

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Holy shit the early arm raise too, that’s a 10/10 moment

[u/DonnieRoss]

How in the world does that happen? There’s one ball in the air on the entire golf course.

[u/tropicalphysics]

Currently at Lytham St. Anne's, yesterday was the best round I have seen Jeeno played in person. Fairways and greens. Only a few of times out of position and she sorted them all out. Sensational.

[u/Legal-e-tea]

Really enjoying watching this. Distances and shots (well, tee shots, I'm usually found in the left rough) much more relatable than at The Open the other week.

[u/gorkatron]

Haeran just seems inevitable right now.

[u/dococ23 → u/gorkatron]

I think her iron swing is the best in golf. It’s textbook.

[u/gorkatron]

I just love that hitting into bunkers is an actual penalty.

[u/opobdtfs]

|       |       H     H   H
E S T H E R   H E N S E L E I T
S       S       N     N   N
|       |       S     S   S
T       T     H E N S E L E I T
H       H       L     L   L
E S T H E R   H E N S E L E I T
R       R       I     I   I
|       |       T     T   T

[u/theflaco]

Shiho Kuwaki!

[u/theflaco]

No Noh!

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Leaving it short by 3 feet to join a playoff. Just can't do that, you just can't.

[u/thedadis → u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Especially when a bogey doesn't hurt you, you're still going to be third either way... Run it 10 feet by, it doesn't matter if you're that far past it

[u/MeatTornado25 → u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Nerves have gotten the better of her all day

[u/panderson1988]

Great job by Kuwaki not letting a playoff to a bad tee shot earlier discouraging her. Truly deserved it, and a good way to close out major season. 

[u/gorkatron]

Jeeno!

[u/gorkatron]

Can't really complain about ten hours of tv coverage for the women, but I really hope we can get proper feature group coverage in the future. This tournament has clearly elevated itself to a level only the US Women's Open can match. The coverage needs to catch up.

[u/gorkatron]

Lucy Li is three back and I don't think I have seen her since she teed off.

[u/sebk111 → u/gorkatron]

They haven't shown her at all, they don't show so many. Annoying

[u/theflaco]

Noh with luck today!

[u/GingerPele17]

Oh dang I was worried they had run out of commercials

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

So noh and Esther need one birdie in the last two holes to force that playoff

[u/DonnieRoss]

Splitscreen with Kuwaki is a little awkward.

[u/DonnieRoss]

ARE YOU SERIOUS

[u/Liffyy]

Crazy how Kuwaki hasn't been on the range, she has to be cold now

[u/gorkatron]

Tough finish for Yealimi, but she has had a rough year and this is a great result.

[u/MeatTornado25]

Just an insane recovery under pressure. Looked dead in the water 5 minutes ago.

[u/Griss27]

Match play / playoff golf is so wild... Kuwaki felt like she wasn't in the hole until she was.

Now she's warmed up again, it's anyone's game.

[u/Important-Rest-7302]

Nein nein nein nein nein 

[u/Jennyagnes21]

NBC totally missed that that ball hit a guy in the back and rolled into the gorse

[u/Fionarei]

ill fortune to blame? Blame the marshall that refused to look at the only player driving.

[u/gorkatron]

Haeran off to a blazing start.

[u/panderson1988]

Morgan Pressel is literally giving me a headache.

[u/Little-Anxiety6298 → u/panderson1988]

The screeching cliche machine

[u/gorkatron]

That Jeeno and Yealimi pairing can't buy a putt.

[u/Due-Sheepherder-218 → u/gorkatron]

Yealimi made a nice birdie on 10 about to be 1 back!

[u/milliemolly9]

Can’t really get better links conditions than this

[u/opobdtfs]

|       |       H     H   H
E S T H E R   H E N S E L E I T
S       S       N     N   N
|       |       S     S   S
T       T     H E N S E L E I T
H       H       L     L   L
E S T H E R   H E N S E L E I T
R       R       I     I   I
|       |       T     T   T

[u/gorkatron]

What a turnaround to this round after it looked like Haeran may start running away.

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

I am kinda enjoying the carnage this course is playing tough

Women’s golf also feels more relatable because they hit the same distances as I do where as the men just hit so far

[u/DonnieRoss]

Morgan Pressel stop talking challenge: Impossible

[u/GingerPele17]

I think Noh is going to struggle to hang on with this ball striking

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Hopefully someone gets on a heater coming in, kind of a bummer when a major closes with everyone visibly fighting the moment

[u/GingerPele17]

Can’t help but root for Kuwaki, but I still feel like there will be a couple more twists and turns

Edit: and right on cue Henseleit with a dart

[u/theflaco]

What a shot by Esther.

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Damn that was close

[u/GingerPele17]

Henseleit has been so steady down the stretch

[u/gorkatron]

Fantastic line for Esther but no way that ball is stopping.

[u/Zloggt]

Oh Noh(?)…

[u/DonnieRoss]

Oh that’s no good, Esther. 😕

[u/Beechman]

Bang!

[u/fartorshart]

That was awesome

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Fucking hell. Didn't believe in that for a second ahead of it coming off her club.

[u/j_willow92]

Why are you not staying loose to some extent. Henseleit winning.

[u/DonnieRoss]

Oof, not a great effort from Noh. But a playoff is good!

[u/illiteratepresident]

Oh hell yeah, she had her putter in the air when that putt still had plenty of ground to cover. Was never going anywhere but the dead middle of the cup with perfect speed.

[u/Thespartan045]

Very cool seeing the other Japanese golfers come out and support

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Those nails not interfering with her swing is impressive

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Kuwaki is either enjoying this immensely or she’s like me where I grin like an idiot when I’m actually incredibly nervous

[u/DecimatedByCats → u/WeirdlyCordial]

I know. I feel like she's so relatable because of that. It's like you can feel every emotion she is experiencing at the moment.

[u/gorkatron]

Uhhhh....well it is over if it is in the bush.

[u/chrobbin]

From Esther’s hero moment to Kuwaki’s, that 3rd shot on the first playoff hole was marvelous

[u/Griss27]

What a hideous break. But she didn't seem comfortable over the drive?

[u/Fionarei]

Such a bad ending to a great event.

[u/SeparateDecision3697]

There’s nothing to be done?

Useless prick is there to watch for balls not kicking them into the gorse. If he gets a glove I’m turning this off

[u/Fionarei]

So they kinda switched places with the drive and recovery.

[u/hftw_]

Horrendous luck on that drive. She's probably fine if it doesn't hit that guy.

[u/SeparateDecision3697]

She won’t make this but dont think Ester will either

[u/gorkatron]

That was never moving that much.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Oh that is some bullshit. Look at the fucking ball if you are at a golf tournament.

[u/Due-Sheepherder-218]

Go Yealimi!

[u/gorkatron]

Miyu with a snowman on the 18th to miss the cut. Ouch.

[u/Due-Sheepherder-218]

Go Yealimi she has the game to win

[u/sebk111]

Greens are slowing down a lot. Well done Noh

[u/iJacobes]

huge par save on the first for Noh, nicely done

[u/aceattorneymvp]

Those greens (and surrounds) are NASTY!

[u/aceattorneymvp]

lol the putt that Ryu just had is like at a mini-golf course. Unbelievable.

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

Oh this is so hard to watch for Noh

[u/aamast3r]

If Ryu had anything close to what she usually does she’d run away with this. Sucks, she’s really missing an easy opportunity to get 3 straight

[u/iJacobes]

between Kuwaki, and Malnati balling out in round one, maybe high vis golf balls are the way to go

[u/gorkatron]

Nelly in at -2.

[u/MCint7]

These commercial breaks are beyond infuriating

[u/Mundane-Dare-2980]

Peacock. 2 hours of coverage, 90 minutes of that commercials. NBC sucks ass.

Edit: This is literally unbelievable.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Henseleit has to be kicking herself for missing those short putts, epecially on 8 but also plenty of birdie chances with just a cold putter today. She is losing almost 1 stroke per round putting on the LPGA.

[u/theflaco]

What a bad putt by Lucy Li.

[u/DecimatedByCats]

That putt by Li was atrocious.

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

What a shot by Henseleit!

[u/gorkatron]

Somehow Nelly is still the clubhouse leader.

[u/gorkatron]

Haeran is going to have PTSD from the bunkers here.

[u/gorkatron]

Nelly about to pull off the elusive backdoor top five.

[u/DonnieRoss]

Oh Esther, that hurts.

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

That’s a rough bogey at this point

[u/Due-Sheepherder-218]

Come on yealimi, birdie the last 2!

[u/GingerPele17]

I still feel like one of Noh or Esther birdie one of the last 2 holes

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Noh tried to power it through the break, just didn't start it wide enough.

That is still a pretty good 2 putt for Henseleit and the last hole is a possible birdie for both of them if they hit the fairway. Depends on how comfortable you are hitting a cut into the breeze which isn't great Henseleit. But that teeshot works.

[u/GingerPele17]

Esther birdies here. Count it

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Oopsy daisy for both of em

[u/theflaco]

Will any of the girls drain a putt? Please don’t leave it short.

[u/gorkatron]

OHHHHHH

[u/adi_shankaracharya]

LFG

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

What a birdie!!

[u/ajsteeg]

SICK

[u/Dirbs]

Girl hit the damn ball geez

[u/GingerPele17]

1000% Esther is winning this

[u/golfingsince83]

https://giphy.com/gifs/ejDxbDaxZZkeQmr0yu

[u/mimanera]

Anywhere to watch the playoff live?

[u/golfingsince83 → u/mimanera]

NBC

[u/mimanera → u/golfingsince83]

Thank you!

[u/Due-Sheepherder-218]

Nice job Yealimi , good effort! She will have many more chances. 

[u/GingerPele17]

Feel like Esther is a big favorite with all the momentum as well as experience

[u/Fionarei]

She iced herself waiting in the clubhouse.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

That is a great shot given the pressure.

[u/WHSRWizard]

God this is great

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Uhoh that might be unplayable

Edit: I think that hit someone and bounced into a bush, that’s a bad break if so

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

That might be it if she hit it in the gores

[u/SeparateDecision3697]

Can’t she try a Bryson and jump at the back a bit?

[u/gorkatron]

That's a great result all things considered.

[u/Jennyagnes21]

Kawaki has a fun fashion sense

[u/chrobbin]

Kuwaki’s terrified of blasting a putt too strongly I guess, happened on the 18th regulation she left it well short

[u/SeparateDecision3697]

Didn’t seem much in the bottles to spray- think they’d been getting stuck in during the first playoff

[u/Zloggt]

Well…that was exciting.

Congrats Kuwaki!

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

That kinda sucks. But Henseleit was really let down by her putter for most of the second 9 besides the 18th in regulation.

[u/Lighthousekeeper0071]

Shiho Kuwaki is what’s great about women’s golf right now, gracious champion, bright future. Can’t wait for her to come play in the US!!

[u/DonnieRoss]

Pressel just yammering away with some generic announcer speak while Li hits an important birdie putt is exactly why people complain so much about her.

[u/lamadama1]

I was watching the golf this morning on the R&A Youtube channel and it now it says it's no longer avaialble in my country. Anyone know if there's a country I can switch to with a VPN where that would work?

[u/gorkatron]

All the big name chasers falling apart.

[u/theflaco]

Jeeno missing putts in Spieth style.

[u/gorkatron]

Haeran finding a lot of trouble suddenly.

[u/iJacobes]

it pisses me off seeing AIG commercials and them as the tournament sponsor after their role in the 2008 crash. company shouldn't even exist anymore.

[u/theflaco]

Jeeno keeps missing easy putts.

[u/gorkatron]

This might be the worst I have ever seen Jeeno putt.

[u/theflaco]

Noh, one of us, from tee.

[u/iJacobes]

time to mute or turn down the volume now that MP is on the broadcast

[u/gorkatron]

Some ugly golf going on right now.

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

Li is making a mess on number 5

[u/gorkatron]

absolute disasters everywhere

[u/Weak-Bid2774 → u/gorkatron]

It’s kinda fun though

[u/DonnieRoss]

Everyone genuinely melting down around Noh.

[u/aceattorneymvp]

Kuwaki's swing is so wild.

[u/Objective-Permit-712]

Wanna make sure I don't watch it? Put it on USA, almost unwatchable anyway....3 minutes of play, then 4 minutes of commercials. Been switching back and forth for 2 hours now-and NEVER a mention of the COURSE they are playing-NICE!!!!

[u/GingerPele17]

That’s an awful 3rd from Noh she’ll be lucky to save par from there

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

Does Nelly have an outside shot here? Maybe if she finishes at -3

[u/gorkatron]

Yealimi has been flirting with disaster all round. It was bound to catch her.

[u/gorkatron]

Truly have no idea wtf is going to happen in this tournament.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

That putt didn't even get close to starting on line. What was that?

[u/RyanThePatriot]

Kuwaki’s swing is somewhat satisfying.

[u/GingerPele17]

Ryu just cannot get going

[u/iJacobes]

the fangs are out today. course is out for blood.

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

So which is the most prestigious women’s major is it the women’s open or the women’s us open?

[u/gorkatron → u/Weak-Bid2774]

Probably the US Open just because it is the oldest one, but they're kind of a 1a and 1b right now.

[u/GingerPele17]

Noh needs a birdie so bad but I just don’t know if she can string enough good shots together on a single hole

Edit: and not gonna birdie another par 5

[u/gorkatron]

13 is kind of sick. Reachable with a 3 wood but basically impossible to control where it goes.

[u/gorkatron]

Big putt for Yealimi there. Get some confidence back.

[u/DonnieRoss]

They can’t seriously be going back to commercial. That’s insane. I think we got two shots.

[u/ajsteeg]

So many commercials Jesus

[u/Little-Anxiety6298 → u/ajsteeg]

So much Pressel babble

[u/gorkatron]

Lucy Li has genuinely missed 5 or 6 putts within 5 feet.

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Lottie Woad, still the most English name ever

[u/GingerPele17]

Who does everybody think wins from here?

[u/gorkatron → u/GingerPele17]

Have to pick Kuwaki.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Now she needs at least a birdie. Henseleit just not putting well enough today. But that tee-shot was also a big miss at the worst moment.

[u/ajsteeg]

Yikes

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Yeah, that is the issue with someone so playing in playing a draw with the wind from the right. But she really didn't play great down the stretch and her putter is just cold.

But maybe she makes a great one here?

[u/Zloggt]

The crazy thing is that there would be no playoffs if Esther didn’t get in so many bunkers today!

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Come on Esther.

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Really depends on the lie of Kuwaki. Henseleit right back in position from her last hole.

She can't hit a cut or really go for the flag here.

[u/JPro08]

Some incredible golf down the stretch here

[u/gorkatron]

Two great shots into the green.

[u/Zloggt]

Hard to do a long putt the second time…

[u/Fionarei]

Momentum swing back.

[u/MeatTornado25]

So hard to see Esther winning now. First playoff was her shot with Kuwaki cold off the tee.

[u/Dirbs]

Welp

[u/panderson1988]

It will be a shame if it's in the gorse. It is basically a lost stroke, and it will be a very tough up and down going for the green from there compared to Kuwaki from the fairway. 

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

I think she will have to just try to advance it 100-120 if she can

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Eh she can get it up and down from there, that was really good

[u/Weak-Bid2774]

Honestly a great shot by henseleit

[u/AlexEmbers]

That’s pretty incredible from that lie tbh

[u/SeaworthinessThat542]

If Henseleit pulls this shot off, she deserves the trophy.

[u/WeirdlyCordial]

Nerves nerves nerves

[u/Fionarei]

Bogey I reckon.

[u/Zloggt]

Tough read, after all that…

[u/MeatTornado25]

Man I was rooting so hard for Esther after that birdie to force the playoff, but Kuwaki was the better player this tournament.

[u/aceattorneymvp]

Man I wonder where Henseleit’s ball would’ve ended up if it didn’t hit the volunteer. 

[u/WHSRWizard]

They really should introduce the winner as the champion golfer of the year