Charley Hull makes honest admission ahead of $10m AIG Women’s Open

Charley Hull has revealed she is relishing the chance to compete for a record $10 million (£7.5m) prize fund at this week’s AIG Women’s Open, admitting that financial incentives help bring out the best in her game.

The winner at Royal Lytham & St Annes will take home a $1.5 million first prize, with the landmark 50th staging of the Championship offering the biggest purse in AIG Women’s Open history. 

This year's total prize purse of $10m is a $250,000 increase on last year's renewal at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. 

Hull motivated by money boost

Hull, who has twice finished runner-up at the AIG Women's Open, believes the increased investment in women’s golf is a significant step forward and says competing for bigger rewards provides an extra source of motivation.

“It’s great for AIG to be raising the bar,” said LPGA star Hull. 

“I think in the last few years the majors have really gone up in prize money, and it’s really, really good to see.

“It’s now the Tour’s job, and our job as players, to make it really exciting for everyone, get more people to come and make it a massive event for the sponsors.

“I think it’s great what they’ve done. It’s nice and it’s good because I love playing for money. I’m not going to lie.

“That’s why I think I play so well in the majors. Even if I’m quite a lot behind I’m like, make loads of birdies today, extra dollars for me to get.”

Major win final piece of puzzle

Hull, currently ranked seventh in the world, arrives at Royal Lytham & St Annes in impressive form after another standout season. 

The 30-year-old began the year by winning her fifth career Ladies European Tour title at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, and she recently rose to a career-high World No.3 — the highest ranking ever achieved by an Englishwoman.

But despite all her success in the sport, highlighted by five wins on the LET and three on the LPGA, the one achievement missing from her CV is a major title. 

Hull has come agonisingly close in the majors before, especially at the AIG Women’s Open, finishing runner-up at Walton Heath in 2023 and missing out again at Royal Porthcawl in 2025.

Hull sees no Korda comparison

When asked by one reporter about comparisons with runaway World No.1, 19-time LPGA winner and four-time major champion Nelly Korda, Hull played down talk of any rivalry with the American while acknowledging the gap between their major records.

“I don’t really see it as a rivalry at the minute because, no offence, Nelly has got however many majors and I’ve got none,” Hull said.

“I’ve got five second places. Let me get my major in first, and then that’s something we can think about in the future.”

Hull also reflected on her long connection with the AIG Women’s Open, recalling her first experience of the Championship as a young golfer.

“In 2006, I think I was ten years old, and I played in the pro-am here with Morgan Pressel, so it’s pretty cool to be back,” she said.

“I think there are some pictures of me in the players’ lounge after the pro-am with Laura Davies, Lorena Ochoa, Annika, Morgan and Natalie, so it was pretty cool.”

Hull frustrated by slow play

Away from prize money and major ambitions, Hull also addressed one of golf’s biggest talking points: slow play.

The quick-moving Englishwoman admitted she becomes frustrated by delays but accepts that speeding up professional golf is a complicated issue.

“I feel like when we are playing two balls it’s so much better, but I just get frustrated how slow it can get sometimes because I’m quite a quick thinker and quick mover with everything I do in my life,” she said.

“It’s quite hard to speed it up because you have so many factors in golf: wind, slopes, greens. Some people in front could have had a ruling that had to wait.

“I just know it’s a massive difference when we play in twos how quickly we go round.”

The AIG Women’s Open returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the sixth time this week, with 144 of the world’s best players competing for one of women’s golf’s five major championships.

The historic Lancashire links has previously hosted 11 editions of The Open, two Ryder Cups and five previous AIG Women’s Opens.

With record prize money, increased coverage and one of the strongest fields in Championship history, Hull believes the stage is set for another major moment in women’s golf.

And for the English star, the motivation is simple: win the trophy, claim the $1.5 million winner’s cheque and finally secure the major title that has narrowly escaped her so many times.