Royal Lytham Is 778 Yards Longer Than the Last Time Annika Won Here
Royal Lytham is 778 yards longer than in 2003 and has lost two shots of par. How the historic 2026 AIG Women's Open layout actually compares.
Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu have won all four women's major championships so far in 2026 between them — reportedly the first time in women's golf that two players have each won multiple majors in the same season.
Either one can become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win three majors in a single calendar year.
That makes the fact that they were drawn together at 8:42am on Thursday morning far more than a nice bit of tee-time scheduling: it puts the two dominant players of 2026 on the same tee box at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The comparison nobody has run
Here is the historical layout comparison that reframes expectations for the 50th staging of the AIG Women's Open:
| Year | Par | Yards | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 72 | 6,308 | Annika Sörenstam | −10 |
| 2009 | 72 | 6,492 | Catriona Matthew | −3 |
| 2026 | 70 | 7,086 | — | — |
The course is 778 yards longer than it played when Annika Sörenstam won in 2003, and it has lost two shots of par.
Run it per stroke: the field got 87.6 yards of golf course for every shot of par in 2003, 90.2 in 2009, and 101.2 today. That is a roughly 15% increase in golf course per allowed shot over 23 years.
Why it matters this week
Miyu Yamashita won at Royal Porthcawl last year at 11 under on a par 72 measuring 6,748 yards. If anyone is anchoring their expectations to last year's winning figure, they shouldn't. Catriona Matthew won at Lytham in 2009 at 3 under on a course nearly 600 yards shorter than the layout being played today.
Key championship facts:
- This is the 50th staging of the Championship, and the sixth at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
- Yamashita, defending as a rookie champion, would be the first to successfully defend since Yani Tseng in 2011.
- The field features 24 of the world's top 25, all 19 LPGA winners from 2026, and 12 past champions.
- Royal Lytham has hosted the men's Open Championship 11 times and is expected back on that rota in 2028.
Corrections on yardage and purse
1. The exact yardage: Official R&A championship cards list Royal Lytham at 7,086 yards at par 70, rather than third-party figures listing 7,094.
2. The purse: Some Spanish-language preview leaderboards list $9,750,000 — which is 2025 data. The official purse announced by the R&A in April is $10 million, with $1.5 million to the champion.
FAQ
When do Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu tee off?
They tee off together at 8:42am BST on Thursday, joined by 2024 champion Lydia Ko.
What is the par and yardage for Royal Lytham in 2026?
The course plays as a par 70 measuring 7,086 yards.
How much longer is the course compared to 2003?
It is 778 yards longer than when Annika Sörenstam won the title in 2003 at 6,308 yards.
What is the official purse for the 2026 AIG Women's Open?
The purse is a record $10 million, with $1.5 million to the winner.
GOLFRAW's Take
Tee-time announcements are usually reported as routine listings, but Korda and Ryu sharing every major trophy in 2026 makes their 8:42am pairing the centerpiece of the championship. Combine that rivalry with a Royal Lytham layout that demands 101 yards per stroke of par compared to 87 back in 2003, and any expectation of a double-digit under-par winning score should be thrown out immediately.