THITIKUL LEADS AIG WOMEN’S OPEN, MAGUIRE BEST OF THE IRISH
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul during the first round of the AIG Women’s open at Royal Lytham & St Annes (Photo: LET)
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul was the first-round leader after an opening round of 64 (-7) at the 2026 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes where Leona Maguire was best of the Irish.
The world number two was on excellent form in the final Major of the year rolling in three consecutive birdies from the fourth. Thitikul added another on eight before further birdies on 11, 13 and 15 sealed a wonderful opening round to lead two from Korea’s Haeran Ryu and Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki in a tie for second.
“I do enjoy it when golf is good. It’s really nice that I knew I hit some good shots, but I got lucky bounces over the pot bunkers. When it’s your way, it’s really your way. I knew I had a really good putter today too,” said Thitikul.
“The Majors really test our games mentally and physically. When you play good in a major, even top five or top 10, you feel great and you have more confidence going to play just regular tournaments. It’s about beating the course when you’re in a major.”
The five-time LET winner has great memories of this golf course after she won the Smyth Salver during the 2018 edition of the AIG Women’s Open.
“I should be better than when I was 15 years old! It played the same, I think there’s still bunkers in the way and when you play good you keep the momentum going. My strategy is to beat my score from when I was 15,” Thitikul continued.
“I had really good memories on the first hole. I remember the first day from 2018 and on the first hole, I hit it [very] close to the pin. That’s the best memories. Then making the cut was also good memory, but I think I finished last, so I was to keep improving on what I did last time.”
Two-time Major champion Ryu and Kuwaki share second place on five-under-par. Ryu, who won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship back-to-back, began her day with a birdie at the first and added further birdies on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes.
Despite a bogey on 15, the world number three bounced back with birdies on 16 and 18 to seal an opening round of five-under-par.
“Today felt so tough because in the morning before the round there was a little rain, so I thought please no rain today. Weather is pretty good and the wind is still hard. My golf is pretty good, I’m happy to finish with a birdie,” said Ryu.
Kuwaki only had one dropped shot on her scorecard and rolled in birdies on the fourth, fifth, sixth, 11th, 16th and 18th holes.
“I managed my game well despite the strong winds and I was able to hole some key putts. I stay focused throughout the round and finished with such a good score. My shots were very consistent and making a putt of about six metres early in the front nine really helped me get into a good rhythm,” said Kuwaki.
Maguire opened with a two-over 73, two better than Lauren Walsh’s 75, while Anna Foster carded a five-over 76
Round two begins at 6.30 am (local time) on Friday with a cut to the top 65 players and ties at the end of the day.