Thitikul leads AIG Women’s Open as European golfers eye Solheim Cup spots
Jeeno Thitikul holds a two-shot lead at the 50th AIG Women’s Open, while European contenders balance major championship ambitions with crucial Solheim Cup qualification stakes.
Jeeno Thitikul carded a bogey-free 64 to take a two-shot lead into the second round of the 50th AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The Thai golfer set the lowest round ever recorded at this venue for the tournament, establishing an early benchmark on Friday morning.
For European golf, the tournament carries dual significance as a premier major championship and a critical pivot point for Solheim Cup selection. Several players on the Ladies European Tour are battling not just for the title, but for automatic qualification spots for the upcoming transatlantic team event.
France’s Celine Boutier sits at four under par, remaining within striking distance of the lead. Meanwhile, England’s Charley Hull and Lottie Woad both opened with 69s to place themselves inside the top 10, raising local expectations for a home victory.
Hull acknowledged the intense pressure of the major championship environment, admitting she was shaking on the first tee. "With an iron, you have to strike," she said, adding that she felt she played decently despite missing several putts.
The Solheim Cup implications add a layer of strategic pressure for players on the leaderboard bubble. France’s Agathe Laisne, currently fourth in the Ladies European Tour rankings, requires a top-nine finish to secure an automatic spot, though her early rounds have shown inconsistency.
Chiara Tamburlini began the week with a narrow advantage in the automatic selection standings, but a double bogey has allowed challengers like Helen Briem to remain in contention. The weather at Royal Lytham has remained bright with manageable wind gusts, favoring aggressive scoring conditions.
History suggests Thitikul’s early dominance does not guarantee ultimate victory. No first-round leader or co-leader has won the AIG Women’s Open since Yani Tseng achieved the feat in 2010.
Thitikul previously held a first-round lead at last year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and finished tied for fourth. She will aim to convert this early momentum into a stronger final result as the field narrows over the weekend.
