Charley Hull and Lottie Woad finished tied-sixth at the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, four strokes behind champion Shiho Kuwaki.
Both English golfers missed the chance to claim a maiden major title on Sunday as Kuwaki won the tournament at five under par after beating Esther Henseleit in a play-off finish. Four-time major winner Dame Laura Davies of Sky Sports Golf stated that both players will view the tournament as a missed opportunity.
"They'll both see this as a missed opportunity because five under has won it," Davies said of Hull and Woad after the final round.
Hull began Sunday with a birdie, but double-bogeys on the third and seventh holes ruined her title challenge. The English golfer carded 17 birdies across the tournament, trailing only world number one Nelly Korda, who registered 19 birdies to finish tied for fourth at two under par.
Hull also recorded 12 bogeys alongside her two costly double-bogeys on Sunday. Without those two double-bogeys in her final round, Hull would have finished at five under par to join the play-off against Kuwaki and Henseleit.
Final Round Struggles for Hull
Davies explained that Hull's aggressive style contributed to her dropped shots during the tournament. "Charley played a little bit in and out, whereas Lottie was really solid, she just didn't hole enough putts," Davies said.
"Charley made a few too many mistakes," Davies added. "And that's just the way she plays golf; she goes full out attack. She was pretty disciplined this week, but I think she'll think, 'I was only four back and I should have been in there right at the death.'
Woad opened the tournament with a bogey-free 69 before adding rounds of 71 and 70. She started the final day at three under par before falling away with a two-over 73 on Sunday, which was her first over-par round of the week.
Despite the tough final day, the 22-year-old secured the fifth top-10 finish of her career. The result also ensured Woad maintained her record of finishing in the top 10 in all three of her AIG Women's Open appearances.
Solheim Cup Debut and Future Outlook for Woad
Woad will make her debut Solheim Cup appearance for Team Europe next month following her strong performance at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Commentator Andrew Cotter praised the young golfer's consistency during the broadcast.
"Woad didn't roll in enough putts," Cotter said on commentary. "But she continues this remarkable run of three Women's Open Championships played and a third top-10. Again she shows her quality and a major will surely happen for her in the future. She's only 22-years-old. It's another top-10 but just not quite there on this occasion."
The Ladies European Tour remains in England this week for the PIF London Championship at the Centurion Club, starting on Thursday. The LPGA Tour takes a week off before returning with the Standard Portland Classic from August 13 to 16.
