AIG Women's Open 2026: Full Field And How They Qualified For Royal Lytham & St Annes

The AIG Women's Open trophy — A strong field is bound for Royal Lytham & St Annes for the AIG Women's Open

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The final women's Major of the year comes from Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire, England, with the AIG Women's Open.

Over 140 players will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in the women's game. But how did they qualify?

There are many ways to qualify for the tournament, with some players eligible via several categories and others making their way to the event thanks to just one.

The result is one of the best fields in golf, featuring recent Major winners, the highest-ranked players in the world, top amateurs and veterans.

Arguably the biggest name is Nelly Korda, who won the first two Majors in 2026, the Chevron Championship and the US Women's Open. Can she make it three and claim the AIG Women's Open title for the first time?

Hae Ran Ryu then emulated Korda with victories at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship fo his first two Majors.

The AIG Women's Open is the only one where she is yet to finish in the top 10, but given her stunning recent form, few would bet against that changing at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Another big name is Jeeno Thitikul, whose one glaring omission from a trophy-laden CV remains a Major title. Meanwhile, a player with a string of close calls at Majors is Charley Hull, who will be a crowd favorite playing in her homeland.

Lydia Ko with the AIG Women's Open trophy — Lydia Ko won the AIG Women's Open two years ago

With other huge stars in the field including defending champion Miyu Yamashita, Lydia Ko, who won the title two years ago, and three-time Major winner Minjee Lee, the stage is set for a top-quality four days of action.

The venue is also set to be a star of the show. Royal Lytham & St Annes is more accustomed to hosting The Open, with the men's Major having been held there 11 times, with its next visit scheduled for 2028.

However, it is no stranger to the AIG Women's Open, either, having hosted five times, most recently in 2018, when Georgia Hall claimed the title.

Below, we've listed the full field as it stands for the 2026 AIG Women's Open as well as how each player qualified, based on the highest relevant exemption criteria according to the R&A (players may have qualified via multiple categories).

1. AIG Women's Open Past Winners

Ashleigh Buhai
Georgia Hall
Ariya Jutanugarn
IK Kim
Lydia Ko
Anna Nordqvist
Sophia Popov
Hinako Shibuno
Jiyai Shin
Yani Tseng
Lilia Vu
Miyū Yamashita

Miyu Yamashita won the AIG Women's Open a year ago

2. AIG Women's Open 2025 Top-10

Weiling Hsu
Charley Hull
Minami Katsu
Megan Khang
A Lim Kim
Stephanie Kyriacou
Paula Martín Sampedro
Rio Takeda
Lottie Woad

Charley Hull during the Amundi Evian Championship — Charley Hull will be a firm favorite with local fans

3. Top-15 LET players in Final 2025 Order of Merit

Casandra Alexander
Helen Briem
Nicole Broch Estrup
Perrine Delacour
Cara Gainer
Amelia Garvey
Darcey Harry
Alice Hewson
Anna Huang
Nuria Iturrioz
Sára Kousková
Nastasia Nadaud
Mimi Rhodes
Chiara Tamburlini
Shannon Tan

Mimi Rhodes at the Dow Championship — Mimi Rhodes will make her second AIG Women's Open start

4. Top-5 Non-Exempt Players In 2026 LET Order Of Merit (July 5)

Kajsa Arwefjäll
Pia Babnik
Diksha Dagar
Alexandra Försterling

Diksha Dagar qualifies thanks to her position on the LET Order of Merit

5. Top 35 players in 2025 LPGA Tour Race To CME Globe

Céline Boutier
Hyejin Choi
Carlota Ciganda
Lauren Coughlin
Lindy Duncan
Ayaka Furue
Linn Grant
Nasa Hataoka
Brooke Henderson
Jinhee Im
Akie Iwai
Chisato Iwai
Auston Kim
Sei Young Kim
Hyo Joo Kim
Grace Kim
Nelly Korda
Jennifer Kupcho
Somi Lee
Andrea Lee
Minjee Lee
Gaby López
Yealimi Noh
Haeran Ryu
Mao Saigo
Jeeno Thitikul
Ruoning Yin
Angel Yin

Nelly Korda at the Amundi Evian Championship — Nelly Korda is seeking her maiden AIG Women's Open title

6. Top-25 Non-Exempt Players In 2026 LPGA Tour Race To CME Globe (July 5)

Pajaree Anannarukarn
Aditi Ashok
Jenny Bae
Robyn Choi
Karis Davidson
Melanie Green
Erika Hara
Youmin Hwang
Soobin Joo
Minji Kang
Alison Lee
Lucy Li
Yu Liu
Nanna Koerstz Madsen
Leona Maguire
Ryann O'Toole
Cassie Porter
Pauline Roussin
Jenny Shin
Patty Tavatanakit
Lauren Walsh
Dewi Weber
Jing Yan
Ina Yoon
Arpichaya Yubol
Rose Zhang
Weiwei Zhang

Rose Zhang makes her fifth AIG Women's Open start

7. Top 50 In 2025 Rolex Rankings (5 July)

Yuna Araki
In Gee Chun
Esther Henseleit
Minsol Kim
Yan Liu

In Gee Chun at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship — In Gee Chun qualifies thanks to her place in the world rankings

8. Non-Exempt Players From 2026 JLPGA Tour Money List

Fuka Suga
Sayaka Takahashi

Fuka Suga is one of two qualifiers from the 2026 JLPGA Tour Money List

9. Non-Exempt Players From 2025 KLPGA Tour Money List (July 5)

Minsun Kim

Minsun Kim qualifies via the KLPGA Tour Money List

10. Winners of any 2026 LET or LPGA Tour Event

Kelsey Bennett
Carolina Chacarra
Hannah Green
Esme Hamilton
Leonie Harm
Gina Kim
Noora Komulainen
Agathe Laisne
Mihyang Lee
Julia López Ramirez
Smilla Tarning Sønderby
Aunchisa Utama
Yana Wilson
Anna Zanusso

Hannah Green at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship — Hannah Green has two wins in 2026 so far

11. Winner of the 2025 JLPGA Money List

Shuri Sakuma

Shuri Sakuma topped the JLPGA Money List to qualify

14. KPMG Women's PGA Championship winners (2022-2026)

Amy Yang

Amy Yang won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in 2024 to qualify

15. US Women's Open winners (2022-2026)

Allisen Corpuz
Yuka Saso
Maja Stark

Maja Stark with the US Women's Open trophy — Maja Stark won the 2025 US Women's Open to book her place in the line-up

17. Two leading non-exempt players at 2026 Suntory Ladies Open

Shiho Kuwaki
Kana Nagai

Shiho Kuwaki won the Suntory Ladies Open

18. Three leading non-exempt players at 2026 ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open

Chanettee Wannasaen
Daniela Darquea
Nataliya Guseva

Chanettee Wannasaen at the LPGA Meijer Classic — Chanettee Wannasaen's performance in Scotland saw her qualify

20. The 2025 winner of the Mark H. McCormack Medal

Kiara Romero (a)

Kiara Romero during the Amundi Evian Championship — Kiara Romero won the Mark H. McCormack Medal

21. 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Champion

Yunseo Yang (a)

Yunseo Yang is the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion

22. 2025 Women's Amateur Latin America Champion

María José Marín (a)

Maria Jose Marin won the 2025 Women's Amateur Latin America

23. 2026 Women's Amateur Champion

Valentine Delon (a)

Valentine Delon with the Women's Amateur trophy — Valentine Delon won the Women's Amateur at Muirfleld

25. 2026 European Ladies Amateur Champion

Charlotte Naughton

Charlotte Naughton at the Curtis Cup — Charlotte Naughton won the European Ladies Amateur Championship

28. Final Qualifying

Bel Wardle
Manon De Roey
Justice Bosio
Lauren Crump (a)
Annabell Fuller
Vanessa Bouvet
Carla Tejedo MuletAnna Foster
Chloe Williams
Polly Mack
Ana Peláez Trivino
Amanda Doherty
Jodi Ewart Shadoff

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Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.

He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.

Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.