AIG Women's Open 2026 Betting Tips: Favorite And Outsider Picks For Royal Lytham

Take a look at who the Golf Monthly team are backing at the final Major of 2026, which takes place at Royal Lytham & St Annes

The AIG Women's Open trophy and flag
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's hard to believe that golf's Major season is almost at an end, with the AIG Women's Open playing as the conclusion to the year.

Taking place at Royal Lytham & St Annes, a star-studded field is heading to Lancashire, where some notable names have won around the historic links before.

Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros and Ernie Els are just some of the famous faces from the men's game to secure victory here, while Annika Sorenstam, Catriona Matthew and Georgia Hall also earned coveted wins.

Royal Lytham & St Annes last staged an AIG Women's Open in 2018, when Hall shot a five-under-par final round to earn a maiden Major by two strokes.

For 2026, Miyu Yamashita comes in as defending champion, having earned a two shot win over Charley Hull and Minami Katsu at Royal Porthcawl.

Looking to become the third player in AIG Women's Open history to defend the championship, Yamashita would join Sherri Steinhauer and Yani Tseng in becoming a back-to-back winner of the Major.

Miyu Yamashita holds the AIG Women's Open trophy

(Image credit: Getty Images)

As expected, Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu are the favorites, with both securing two Majors each throughout 2026.

Korda secured the Chevron Championship and the US Women's Open, while Ryu earned the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship.

Defending champion, Yamashita, is the third favorite at odds of +1200, while Jeeno Thitikul (+1400), Hyo Joo Kim (+1800) and Ruoning Yin (+1800) also rank among the favorites for the final Major of the year.

In terms of the home favorites, Charley Hull leads the contingency at +2500, while Lottie Woad is +3000.

Check out who the Golf Monthly team are backing below...

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A headshot of Elliott Heath wearing a sky blue hoodie
Elliott Heath

Lottie Woad smiles on the tee box

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pick One: Lottie Woad To Win @ BetMGM

The Englishwoman is enjoying a great season with one victory and five top 10s from 15 starts on the LPGA Tour.

Woad is already one of the best players yet to win a Major, despite only making her third AIG Women's Open start this week and second as a pro.

She was T10th and 8th in her first two, so her record is very impressive and I'm confident she can be in the hunt for the iconic trophy come Sunday afternoon.

Pick Two: Jiyai Shin To Win @ BetMGM

The Korean, with over 60 professional victories, is always a threat at the AIG Women's Open, having won the title twice back in 2008 and 2012.

Shin comes in good form this week, with a runner-up and five top 10s from 14 starts this year, largely in Japan, and her recent record here is fantastic with a 3rd in 2023 and a T2nd in 2024.

At 38, it may be a stretch to see her lift the title for a third time, but don't be surprised to see her inside the top 10 after 72 holes.

A close up of Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock

A Lim Kim waves to the crowd

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pick One: A Lim Kim To Win @ BetMGM

Although Kim is yet to win, she is getting closer and closer to a victory, highlighted by numerous strong performances in 2026.

In her last four starts, she has three top 10s, including a runner-up result at last week's Women's Scottish Open.

Along with the recent form, the South Korean finished T4th at the AIG Women's Open last year and has claimed a Major before, showcasing she knows what it takes to compete.

Pick Two: Esther Henseleit To Win @ BetMGM

Like Kim, Henseleit enjoyed a great tournament at last week's Women's Scottish Open, producing a solo fourth result, her best finish of the year.

Although she missed the cut at the Amundi Evian Championship, a T15th at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship shows the German is still in form.

Finishing T37th in 2024 and T23rd in 2025, Henseleit is improving every year and, off the back of her great finish on a links course, I expect her to continue this week at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

AIG Women's Open Betting Odds

  • Nelly Korda (+800)
  • Haeran Ryu (+1000)
  • Miyu Yamashita (+1200)
  • Jeeno Thitikul (+1400)
  • Hyo Joo Kim (+1800)
  • Ruoning Yin (+1800)
  • Charley Hull (+2500)
  • Sei Young Kim (+2800)
  • Lydia Ko (+2800)
  • Lottie Woad (+3000)
  • Akie Iwai (+3000)
  • A Lim Kim (+3300)
  • Brooke Henderson (+4000)
  • Ina Yoon (+4000)
  • Gaby Lopez (+4000)
  • Nasa Hataoka (+4500)
  • Hye Jin Choi (+4500)
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover news and social media.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round is a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: Ping G430 LST 15°, 19°

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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