Former AIG Women’s Open champion Karen Stupples said she had “no doubt” Charley Hull would end her wait for an elusive major title and enjoy a “dream” rivalry between the British woman and Nelly Korda.
Hull narrowly missed out on the chance to become the first British woman to win a major since the US Women’s Open in 2018. She finished tied for second with Gaby Lopez as Korda won by one stroke at Riviera Country Club.
Korda’s back-to-back major titles extended his dominance as world number one and continued his dominant start to the 2026 season, while Hull settled for a fifth runner-up finish of his major career.
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Nelly Korda gave an emotional interview after winning the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club.
Hull admitted it was “disappointing” to fall short again as she did in the 2023 event, but Stupples, one of only four British women to win a major, has full faith that the 30-year-old will eventually win a major.
“There’s absolutely no doubt she’s going to win a major,” said former major champion Karen Stupples. He spoke on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast.. “She might win Royal Lytham this year because of her experience here.
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“I remember the last time the U.S. Women’s Open was in California, it was at Pebble Beach, and she came very close to Pebble Beach, and then she went to Walton Heath, and she played really well at Walton Heath.
“She will continue to be put in these positions and ultimately something has to stick. If she continues to put herself in these positions eventually she will win. I think she is in that position.
“I mean, her game is very suited to the major leagues. I think her short game right now, her putting, the work she’s doing is really great. I think the little things she’s doing in her short game are really going to take her to the next level.”
How Hull’s style brought him great success
Hull was seven shots behind the halfway leader and outside the top 40 after shots of 73 and 72 in the first two days at Riviera Country Club, but she bounced back into contention with a 65, the lowest of her major career, in Saturday’s third round.
She eagled the first par-5 hole and added five birdies in the final round, briefly taking the solo lead after hitting a single on the 11th hole, but at one point was atop the leaderboard and shot a 4-under 67 to finish within one.
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Charley Hull got off to a dream start to the final round with a 12-foot birdie on the par 5.
“She (Hull) loves the chase, but she thoroughly enjoys the heat of battle – the competition and vying for victory,” Stupples added. “She is doing her best to win.
“Here in America we have a saying called ‘prevent defense,’ which is when a football team gets a good lead and then tries to stop the other team from scoring. It’s not just about making plays and trying to score more points.
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Charley Hull got off to a dream start to the final round with a 12-foot birdie on the par 5.
“Stopping defense never works and it always drives me crazy when my team tries to play that way. I think the same goes for Charlie on the golf course. She can’t play defensively. That’s not who she is or how she plays golf.
“Ultimately, you have to stay true to yourself and your golf DNA and who you are on the golf course when you play, because if you are anything else, it doesn’t work. I understand why she did that and I think that will ultimately lead to victory.”
Charlie Hull also placed second at the 2016 Chevron Championship, 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, 2023 AIG Women’s Open and 2025 AIG Women’s Open.
Can Hull challenge Korda and form a new golf rivalry?
Korda’s victory followed her success at the Chevron Championships in April, making her the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win the first two majors of the year, while Hull’s runner-up finish moved her to No. 4 in the latest world rankings.
Both players will be among the favorites to win the final three majors of the year before facing off against each other in the Solheim Cup this September. Live broadcast on Sky SportsStupples loves the idea of the two fan favorites going head-to-head in the coming months and years.
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Watch Nelly Korda win in dramatic fashion after nearly missing a putt to win her fourth major championship!
“It would be a dream,” Stupples said. “If you were the LPGA commissioner, you would think, ‘Okay, let’s have a competition!’ I think they both add a lot to the women’s game in different ways.
“Charley has so much personality and Nelly seems so stoic on the course. I think this could be a really good battle going forward and I’m also thinking about the Solheim Cup later this year.
“I think this is something that could play out for the rest of the year and throughout their careers. What we need is to get Charley across the finish line a few more times to make it a proper, true competition. Right now, Nelly has the upper hand in the situation.”
Sky Sports will continue to be the home of the women’s majors, with all five events broadcast live exclusively throughout the 2026 season, along with LPGA Tour and Women’s European Tour matches. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract.
