Sky Sports Golf Podcast: ‘No Doubt’ Charlie Hull Finds Elusive Major But Can He Create ‘Dream’ Rivalry With Nellie Korda? | golf news

Former AIG Women’s Open champion Karen Stupples has “no doubt” Charlie Hull will end her wait for an elusive major title and enjoy a “dream” rivalry between the Englishwoman and Nellie Korda.

Hal narrowly missed out on becoming the first Englishwoman to win a major since 2018 during the US Women’s Open, where she finished in a tie-second with Gabby Lopez, claiming victory by one shot at Riviera Country Club.

Korda’s back-to-back major titles extended his advantage as world number one and continued his dominant start to the 2026 season, while Hull settled for his fifth career runner-up at the majors.

Hull admitted it was “disappointing” to come up short again as she did in the 2023 edition, although Stupples – one of only four Englishwomen to win a major – has full faith in the 30-year-old to finally claim a major win.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to win a major,” former major champion Karen Stupples told the Sky Sports Golf Podcast. “It could be that he wins at Royal Lytham this year because of that experience here.

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“I remember the last time the US Women’s Open was in California, it was at Pebble Beach. She came very close at Pebble Beach, then she went to Walton Heath and she played really well at Walton Heath.

“He’s going to put himself in this position and eventually something has to stick. If you keep putting yourself in this position, eventually you’re going to win – I think he’s there.

“I mean, his game is perfect for the majors. I think right now with his short game, his game, the work he’s been doing, I think it’s just great.

How Hull’s style can be a big success

He was seven strokes out of the halfway lead and outside the top 40 after rounds of 73 and 72 over the first two days at Rivera Country Club, only to claw his way back into contention with a third-round 65 — the lowest of his major career — on Saturday.

He eagled the par-five first hole during his final round and added five birdies, briefly moving into a one-shot lead on 11, despite stuttering once at the top of the leaderboard and finishing one back after a four-under 67.

“He (Hull) says he likes the chase but he thoroughly enjoys the heat of battle, being in contention and competing for the win,” Stupples added. “He’s doing everything to win.

“Here in America, they have a saying: ‘defense prevention’, which is when American football teams have a good lead and then they try to stop the other team from scoring, as opposed to just playing their game and trying to score more.

“Defensively never works and when my teams try to play that way and it always drives me crazy. I think it’s the same with Charlie on the golf course. He can’t play defensively – that’s not who he is and how he plays golf.

“Ultimately when you’re playing, you have to be true to yourself and your golf DNA and who you are on the golf course, because it doesn’t work if you’re anything else. I understand why he did (stay aggressive) and I think that ultimately leads to winning.”

Can Hull challenge Korda and create a new golfing rivalry?

Corder’s victory followed April’s Chevron Championship success and saw him become the first player since Inby Park in 2013 to win the first two majors of the calendar year, while Hull’s runner-up finish moved him to fourth in the latest world rankings.

Both will be among the favorites for the final three majors of the year before their appearance in opposition at the Solheim Cup this September. Also Sky Sports LiveWith Stupples enjoying the concept of two fan favorites in the months and years ahead.

“It would be a dream,” Staples said. “If you’re the LPGA commissioner, you’re thinking ‘Yeah, let’s bring that rivalry back!’ I think both add a lot to the women’s game in different ways.

“Charlie is all personality and Nelly seems very settled on the course. I think it could be a really good battle going forward and I’m thinking of the Solheim Cup later this year.

“I think it’s something that can be teased for the rest of the year and the rest of their playing careers. What we need is Charlie to cross the finish line a few more times to make it a proper, real contender. Right now, Nelly’s just got the edge of things.”

Sky Sports continues to be the home of the women’s majors, with five exclusively held throughout the 2026 season, including LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour action. Get Sky Sports or Golf Stream with no contract.