Charley Hull makes shock confession after finishing runner-up at AIG Women's Open

Charley Hull admits she didn't once look at a leaderboard in the final round of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.

Hull, 29, made the revealtion when speaking to a pool of reporters after finishing tied second. 

She entered the weekend 11 shots off the pace but rallied to end the tournament just two shots behind Miyu Yamashita. 

When Hull poured home a birdie from 30 feet on the par-4 14th in the final round she pulled to within one shot of the lead.

Only she hadn't a clue where she stood until she got into the scorer's hut. 

Hull was left to rue costly bogeys on 16 and 17 and a disappointing par on the par-5 18th as she finished the week on 9-under par.

The result marked her fourth career runner-up in 61 major appearances.

Hull now ranks T2 in the all-time list for most runner-up finishes without a major win.

"I didn't look at one leaderboard all the way around," Hull confessed to reporters after the AIG Women's Open. 

"I didn't even know where I was coming up to the last hole, whether I was in front or where I was... was I even in the lead?"

The reporter who posed the initial question informed Hull she had got to within a shot of Yamashita after making birdie on the 14th. 

"Yeah, at the end of the day, was she three ahead of me coming into today's round?" Hull replied to the nods of listening reporters. 

"So yeah, like I was chasing, but to shoot a low score in today's weather was good, but to do it under that pressure, I think it's really good for both of us."

Despite another agonising runner-up finish in the majors, Hull told Sky's Henni Zuel that she was proud of her efforts, especially given she was not feeling good at the start of the week.

"Yeah I feel like I played pretty decent all week, especially coming in to the week and not being very confident," said Hull. 

"So it's strange when you work on your game and get your swing feels, and especially being ill, I'm pretty proud of myself." 

For AIG Women's Open champion Yamashita, 24, she not only captured her first major title but also her first victory on the LPGA.

Yamashita has, however, won an impressive 13 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour.

The Japanese star was ranked 15th in the Rolex Rankings on the eve of the final major of the season.

She will now break into the top 10 when the rankings update on Monday morning.

Prior to winning the 2025 AIG Women's Open, Yamashita's best result in a major was a T2 at the 2024 Women's PGA.

Yamashita becomes the fourth different Japanese player to win a major over the past two years, joining Mao Saigo, Yuka Saso and Ayaka Furue.

She took home a record AIG Women's Open first prize of $1.462m.

See the full prize money payouts from the AIG Women's Open.