🔴 LIVE BUILD UP | The AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl | THE DROP

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An exclusive look behind-the-scenes at the AIG Women’s Open

Presented by AIG, Adidas and Nikon – Kat Downes and No Laying Up’s Cody and Big Randy are LIVE from Royal Porthcawl for all the latest insights and updates behind-the-scenes at the AIG Women’s Open.

The R&A | The Open | The AIG Women’s Open

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feeling when I’m controling. Hello, good morning and welcome to day one of the AIG Women’s Open for 2025 here at stunning Royal Pall on the South Wales coast. The rain from earlier on today has cleared away. We woke up to gray skies, overcast conditions, a rattling wind, but look at it now. There are blue skies overhead, little polka dot clouds in the sky, and the sun is warm, the wind is blowing, and that is really what we want from Lynx Golf, isn’t it? And here we are on the range on day one alongside no laying up podcasts, Randy. Big Randy, as everyone knows you, and former LE player and now consumate broadcaster Sophie Walker. Uh, thank you so much for walking out here in the sunshine with me. What a spot and what a way to open the AIG Women’s Open for this year. It’s exactly what this tournament deserves. First time we’ve come to Wales. It’s the biggest female sporting event ever to hit this nation and the sun has turned up for us. And it was just this wonderful scene as Charlie Hall pulled her last couple of putts on the practice green and she walked to the first te and the sun came out and since then it has been absolutely gorgeous. We’ve still got a freshening wind but this is perfect. This is great links golf weather and we’ve just seen, haven’t we? We’re standing on the range here which is almost in the center of things. There’s a spectator village over to our left and the course itself joins the range down this right hand side. This is the ninth, isn’t it? There’s a huge gallery down there because we think that’s where Charlie Hull is playing now. You’ve got the best view actually around here. How tall are you? 6’8. So you can see over that wall over there. Just what can you see down there? I can see somebody playing down that fit that ninth hole. You know, as I look over, I believe that was Charlie Hall. We we see uh the the her her follow through kind of whips it off her shoulder. Almost a second down swing that she makes. Uh but you’re right. Yeah. You you look for the big galleries. They’re out in full force behind Charlie this morning. I agree with Sophie. Just a spectacular setting here. The fan village is magnificent. Bring the kids. This is all going to sound very normal on the television. I think this looks rather odd because Sophie, how tall are you? You must be I’m 5 foot four. Five foot four. I’m 5 foot six and Randy is towering over us at six foot eight. But you get the best view and you can tell us what the conditions are doing up there. What would you say conditions on the opening day are like? I don’t think they could be better. Truly, a bit of breeze. I I I think Sophie, what what would you say? Um, it it’s fresh, but it’s not it’s not a strong wind. I I think I saw in my weather forecast app that it was about 10 to 15 miles hour uh out of the west northwest. And I I think it allows for just enough challenge for the women out there on the course today. But certainly, I think some scoring conditions, perhaps as good a conditions as as we might see. And on the driving range, this is one of the furthest parts of the golf course away from the water. So, you would say standing here, you’re looking at a club wind, but I think once you get out onto that first hole, those few exposed golf holes, 1 2 3 4 down the side of the coastline, you’ll be seeing more of a two club wind out there. I can hear the distant strains of the Welsh national anthem, which is playing from a speaker somewhere over there. The best national anthem in the world, I would wager. There’s nothing like it, is there? Randy, is this your first time visiting Wales? It is. It is. As an American, what have you made of it so far? What are your highlights of Welsh culture? The high Oh gosh, you’re put like nothing else. The West Wales sunshine, the light here, the sunsets here, the grass, there’s crispy coastal grass, the sea breezes. And I’ve grown up playing coastal links golf up at the mighty Borth and Inislas. and Royal Porcool feels very similar. I love it down here. And the drive into the golf course, it’s a single track road and there’s people parked up surfing today. So, there’s a bit of an Australian coastal feel to it when the sun is out. But what I want you to try this week Yes, please. Please. Welsh rabbit. Okay. Okay. Do you do you want to What do you think that is as my first question? Well, I would guess rabbit. Thank you. Uh, no. Okay. I have no idea. And I I’m afraid if the more you tell me, the least the less likely I am. Absolutely delicious. And it does sound quite strange. It’s it’s b it’s Welsh cheese on toast, but they whip beer into it. So, it’s slightly frothy. Spectacular. You must try it. It’s magic. It goes well with a with a pint at the pub, I imagine. 100%. You can have it any time of the day. That’s what’s great about Well, so go in and say Welsh rabbit. Okay. I was told about there’s there’s a breakfast scone type a little Welsh cake. Yes. That’s on my list. Cup of tea. Okay. Yeah. And a slice of barabrith. Okay. Which is Welsh kind of really dense fruit cake bread. Okay. Cannot be missed. This is great. This is great. Uh yes. So that is the the scene that we’ve set down here. We’ve given Randy some tips about what he needs to hit up when he’s next in pourth call and when he’s next going into the shops here. Looking at the leaderboard, we have an outright leader at the moment. Chisato EY of Japan at four underpar ahead of a group of three players at three underpar. Mao Saigo, the Chevron champion. She won the first major of the year in Texas earlier on, the Japanese player. She’s at three under par. Sean Kim at three under par of South Korea. And Andrea Lee, the American also at three under par. and then Shiu Kuwaki of Japan at two under alongside the US Open champion from Sweden, Maya Stark. And then a big bunch of players all at one under par um including the world number two Gino Titkin, Rose Zang, the American superstar is on that marker. Brooke Henderson, uh the Canadian also at one underpar as is former champion uh at the Women’s Open Ashley Buhigh. She’s at one underpar. There’s quite a number of players underpart. A lot of the big names are playing well in the opening stages. Would you say Sophie? You would. And if you look at the the last four majors that we’ve had, all of the winners have been outside the top 20. We haven’t had multiple winners of a major since Lily Vu. And that has been the theme of this year. So many new winners on the LPGA Tour. But this golf course, this is a proper golf course as we say in the north of England. And if you can get through those first holes, stay patient, then you can make a score. And the fact that it’s the final major of the year, there’s some big names that have not won this year, never mind a major, the likes of Nelly Corder. I think that’s a sign. But also the strength of Japanese golf. You’ve got Yuka Saso that’s won the US Open most recently. A Yaka food away last year at the Evian Championships. Never mind the Maigo. The Japanese strength of depth is quite incredible at the moment. And what can you tell us about these EY twins? So we have Chisato EY at the top of the leadout board. Her twin sister Aki was just warming up here on the range behind her. She has left because she is teeing off very shortly. In fact, I think she may have already got herself underway. will be keeping an eye on her. But these two have, you know, they’re young, aren’t they? They’re very exciting to watch. Yeah, they are. I I can tell you, too. I I’m sharing a hotel with them this week. Uh they’re they’re staying at the same place Cody and I are staying. So, we we were joking, you know, maybe there’s a a celebration Sunday night that we could weasle our way into if if one of the sisters were to win. Um they’re they’ve burst onto the scene. I I think uh especially state side and I just play a really aggressive, fearless style of golf. I think I Sophie would probably know maybe more intimate details than I do, but you pass it over. Well, I honestly they’re there they’re there two women that I’ve watched some of their golf on TV, but this is the first chance I’ve will have to see them in person. So, I I won’t pretend and and, you know, say I have their games and their styles all figured out. That’s part of what I’m looking forward to this week is hopefully getting a chance to to see one or both uh at parts during all four rounds. And there’s an interesting dynamic. Obviously, you know, the fact that they’re twins I I everyone will find absolutely fascinating. It’s always part of the story when they they identical twins. Identical twins. Exactly. And one of them is at the top of the leaderboard. So, Chisato at the top of the leaderboard. How will Aki be feeling heading to the first D? Well, look what happened at Royal Port Rush. You know, we had the Hoygard twins up there. I mean, how proud must their parents be? What you know, as not being a twin that they are, they’ve never known any difference. So, they must have always been looking out for each other, looking out for each other’s scores, being compared to each other. How you tell them apart is one’s got long hair, Chiau, and Akea has got short hair. That’s the way to do it. I’ve I’ve actually been out with a once um up close in Thailand when she came second over at the Honda LPGA event in Thailand and she hit golf shots that make you go wow. She hit a shot into the 18th hole which I didn’t even think was on. She was in the rough. She hit five onto the green and it took my breath away. She’s the exciting one. She’s the one that you need to tame and say no, don’t go at the flag. Stay away from it. Giaatu is the more sensible of them in terms of golf game. She’s won already on the LPGA tour, but both of them have been very, very successful over in Japan. So, don’t look at them and go, “Oh, these are rookies. They’ve only been out here a year.” They’re not. They’ve got plenty of experience. But over in Asia, interesting that you say that Chisato is the more sensible conservative player. She’s at the top of the leaderboard at four under par. Is that the type of approach that Royal P call merits today? And if Aki plays her game where she’s attacking pins and she’s going for and she’s being aggressive, is Porto call gonna trip her up today? We’ve been saying, sorry, I’m going to jump in here. I we thought, and I say we, I Cody and I have had many discussions about this golf course and this tournament. Uh I we have settled on patience being one of the keys this week. I think it’s a golf course both off the tea where sometimes especially the the par4 holes can take driver out of your hand and I I I just it it is no surprise to hear you say Chisado being the more sensible perhaps a little bit more um conservative in her golf would be at four under. Um, I don’t know if patience, you know, on a day like today, maybe it’s you show up to the golf course and and the conditions dictate whether, hey, maybe this is a day I need to put the the foot on the gas and and go try to shoot a low number, you would have better insight than me on that, Sophie. Well, for those of you that are looking at the leaderboard at the moment and your favorite player is just starting and they might be a few over par after four holes, do not get stressed because that’s the difficult part of this golf course. then you can pick up some scores six through to 13 and then you hold on to your hat and at 18 you can make a birdie. So just if you’re if you’re there looking thinking oh no that’s not a great start and that might be what some of the players are thinking out there as well. It’s up to their caddies to say look this is an 18hole you know day one and it’s hard at the beginning and it’s hard at the end. We just have to stay in the fight. I think Charlie Hull fans would be saying exactly the same thing, wouldn’t they? We’ve just seen her playing down the ninth away to our right. She was three over par uh I think when she was playing the fourth, but here she is coming down the ninth making the turn. She’s back to level par. She’s picked up three birdies on the bounce. So, as you say, this is going to be a roller coaster of a championship. Yeah. And I, you know, I think Charlie was nervous on that first te. There was a lot of people out there watching her and she spoke in her press conference how she’s a little bit unsure of how she’s going to play because she hasn’t had the amount of time to practice because she’s been unwell with a virus, carried a bit of a bad back and Charlie’s a doer. She likes to check off right, I’ve been to the course, I’ve hit this many balls, I’ve done my putting, I feel prepared and she wasn’t as prepared as she would have liked. So that would have been an unnerving start for Charlie Hall. So the fact that she’s now in the mode, she’s obviously feeling better about a game because she’s back to level par, this is good signs for her. So Chisato EY of Japan leads the AIG Women’s Open. Early stages, she is playing the 13th. She’s at four under par. Mao Saigo, the Chevron champion just tucked in behind her at three under par alongside Korea’s C Young Kim and the American Andrea Lee. here on the range. As you look down, you can see some of the big names going out in the afternoon just beginning to warm up. I can see the Solheim Cup captain, Anna Nordfist, the 2021 uh women’s open champion. She’s just she’s taken off her waterproof trousers. So, that is a good sign from Anna Nord. She looks like she was wrapped up for an arctic rounder. You say that. Is it a good sign for Ana? Cuz she likes bad weather. I think she plays her best golf in a beanie hat. So, the morning the morning 7 a.m. rain she’d have been hoping would have stayed. And another player who loves the bad weather, loves the wind and rain is the defending champion Lydia Co. and she’ll be heading out here onto the range shortly. She is teeing off at 5 to1 later on in the the group that they’re calling triple L or that Lydia herself has christened Triple L. It’s Lydia, it’s Lilia, it’s Lotty. And we’ve seen the massive groups, the massive galleries following Charlie Hull. How about the crowds that are going to be after that threesome, Randy? Well, I wasn’t around for Beetle Mania, but it seems like we have Lahi Mania. Uh, it it’s it’s incredible. She has been the talk of this tournament, this this media center, the the fan village, I think, and and welldeserving, you know, obviously won the Scottish Open last week, her first start as a professional. Couple weeks back, won the Irish Open when she was still an amateur, was a top 10 low amateur here at this Open Championship last year. Um Sophie, do you think I talk to me about expectations in Lahi? Is she somebody that you think can handle these lofty expectations that she suddenly finds herself not only in the spotlight but the favorite coming into this week? Yes. I mean that is a crazy stat to see. Nothing like the British book is to get all our hopes up there. 7 to1 I believe that she was the only thing where um I would say Lotty doesn’t feel her most comfortable is in that media center is with a microphone in front of her and there’s been a lot of demands on Lotty this week in terms of preparation that would have eaten into that preparation and she is used to doing everything by the book her way so she’s been pulled from pillar to post and that’s a lot to be managed when she gets out onto the first tea and gets onto the golf course that’s when she will feel more at home. She is so matter of fact. She’s very straight talking. If anybody can handle this situation, she can, but none of us have ever been in this place. You know that it’s very rare that this ever happens, but the one person that has is Lydia Co. And that’s who she’s playing alongside. What a great pairing that is for her. Just to talk to her. How how does it feel? Lydia is very good. She will not blank her whatsoever. They’re part of the same management company. And to spend two days with co learning from her is going to be vital for Lotty big stage but she is a big player and she is the only player in this field with a 100% record as a professional golfer and that is unheard of. I mean even the best players in the world and I’m talking the likes of Rory Maroy only have a 10% record. She’s got to enjoy it while it lasts. We’re hoping to speak to Lotty W a little bit later in this hour here on the range on AIG Women’s Open Radio. We’re just going to head out to the course though and get a quick update on the action out there. Ian Carter and Michelle Thompson are following Andrea Lee, Amy Yang, and Leona Maguire. Experienced Amy Yang, 36 years of age. She’s clawed it back to level par here. And this is a chance to get into the red figures cuz she’s hit a lovely T- shot into the par 312. sends the puck forward looking for the birdie and in it goes. It disappears and she’s on a bit of a run now. Amy Yang gets it to one under par with a birdie at the 12th and Michelle Thompson, she really has got into the groove. Yeah, she’s got into the groove now and she’s um made a few birdies in a row and um she’ll be hoping to continue that form going forward. Very much so. Very much so. Things looking good for the Korean. Amy Yang gets it to one under par where whereas pars for Allison Lee to remain at three under and Leona Maguire to remain at one over. So another player joins that group big bunched up group at one under par. Then there’s a gang a gang of players on two under and then we’ve got a couple on three under but it’s Chisato Eyee of Japan out in front at four under par. Let’s get back to our discussion about that that group of the three L’s. Lydia Co. Lotty word. You were saying Randy, you’ve got a little bit a little bit more to add about Lotty. Your thoughts about her professional debut and how she’ll be feeling coming into this major championship. Well, one tidbit and one opinion and I’m I’m curious how you guys will react to this. The the tidbit is the only woman since Dame Laura Davies to win both the Irish Open and the Scottish Open in the same year. Laura Davies did that in 1994. That’s what Lahi Wood has done this season. And my opinion that I want to give on Lahi, and I know this is getting a little out ahead of things, but from where I sit, I’m based in the United States, of course, I think if if Lahi W is to become um a top five consistent major contender type player, I can’t think of something better for the women’s game and golf in general than an English, let’s call her an English superstar, right? a potential English superstar for as popular and as good as Charlie Hall has been. Georgia Hall has of course won a major championship. I think the game of golf if if if we are to have a a true number one contender in Lahi Wde. I just think golf is a better place when the English fans can get behind somebody like that. Sophie and there’s nothing like the English media to rise her to the top and then knock her back down. But the times are different. Since Dame Laura won this event, even since Georgia Hall won this event, things have changed. Look around you. There’s more people here. There’s more media and the and the English press certainly are looking to get behind some female sport. We saw it with the Lioness’s when they won the Euros at the weekend that the time is now for somebody to do that. The pressure has been on Charlie Hall the last couple of years. I felt when we were at Walton Heath. I felt it on that Sunday. She wins. This is just going to ignite something. It’s going to change everything because the the the Lioness’s were playing that that week as well. It is a lot of pressure because she is an English player and we’re playing our home events, the AIG Women’s Open. If you’re going to start your professional career though as a Brit, why not go Ireland, Scotland, Wales? This is where she feels most at home. This will be all the speculation. It’s all over her. She’s played this golf course numerous times with Nigel Edwards who is the the head of England Golfs. Loves playing Lynx golf. I mean, this is the kid. Sorry, she’s 21. But this is the kid that held her final shot, her final shot last year at this event. It went in at St. Andrews. It stuff happens to Lotty Wat and that is you. She practices really hard, but the fact that she finished with four birdies in the last six holes at Augusta National, she holes out for Eagle on the 18th hole at the old course, that’s like magical. She’s a player for the big stage. You mentioned though the pressure on Charlie Hull a couple of years ago at Walton Heath and the tension we all felt during that last round and Charlie was feeling that tension and that expectation as well and she knew it was such a great chance for her and lost out in the end to Lilia Vu who played phenomenally didn’t she? How does Lotty W cope with that pressure? Is what kind of personality is she to deal with that pressure? They’re very different. Yeah. What one is uh very fasttalking and jittery and full of energy and the other in Lotty is says it with very few words is what she’s trying to do. They both have got incredible work ethics. Don’t get me wrong. I hope Lotty will not look too much at social media. She’s mentioned um yeah that that’s not for me. I don’t want to know about what’s going on. and she’s very much about a process. And when you’re with any form of athlete that talks about the process and doesn’t start thinking about the outcome, then they’re in in a great place. I’ve mentioned how matterof fact she is, how poised she is, how mature she is. You will not know if Lotty W is level par, underpar or overpar. And the way that she works her way around a golf course, there’s a strategy there, and she will not leave that strategy. And both of them, both her and Charlie, love hitting the golf shot how they want to hit it. It’s not really about the trophy at the end of it. It’s have I done what I wanted to do out there. They take great excitement from hitting quality golf shots and as long as they stay excited for practicing and playing then then they’ll be all right. The pressure is huge, but you know what do they say? prefer pressure is a privilege and a lot has to lean into that. Fascinating hearing her talk in the press conference, Randy, about how much she enjoys practicing, how much she enjoys the process, and that it’s the result that doesn’t really matter because it’s almost exactly what we heard Scotty Sheffller say in his press conference prior to winning the Open at Port Rush uh two weeks ago. I I think it’s the mindset that you have to have to be an elite golfer. It it h in an elite athlete or elite at anything in this life, I I think it has to be processoriented. I think you have to love the process. You have to love getting up and putting in the work. And so for her to say those things, I I agree with Sophie. She’s she’s built differently certainly than than Charlie Hall. Just her outward demeanor. Um it doesn’t make one better than the other, but it is a different mindset that I think Lahi W has. And the the only insight I can add is I I haven’t talked to Lahi personally yet, but speaking to some of the people around her and and who do know her, you know, they joke that sometimes they’re not sure she has a pulse, right? Like she her ability to not get wrapped up in big moments, uh seemingly not feel or internalize that pressure is really an asset when it comes to tournament golf. It’s it’s impressive for a 21-year-old. But also Randy Lotty W went to last year’s AIG Women’s Open wanting to win. It was just that nobody asked her the question, you know. So she she birdies the first hole on that Sunday and she’s not looking at a Smith Salva. She’s looking at winning a tournament. She went to the Evian Championship as an amateur a couple of weeks ago looking to win. She has that belief in herself and now she knows. She played alongside Nelly Corder and Charlie Hall last week in Scotland and her game held up rather well. And and I was going to say for for folks that maybe haven’t gotten to watch much of her game. H how does it compare with a Nelly C is she is she as long as those players? What what are the real strengths in your opinion of Lah’s game? She’s as long as Nelly, you you know averaging over 260 off the tea. If you talk about seven iron yardage, you’re looking at around that 160 number, 160 yards carry, which is just above average on the LPGA Tour. Her wedge game, I would compare it to Lydia Co. that’s how high the standards that I would have with that. And in terms of her chipping, she’s not bad at chipping and holes puts when it matters. In terms of putting, I would put her up alongside some of the best on the LPGA tour at the moment like Angel Yin. Well, Lotty Wde, Lilia Vu, Lydia Co, the triple L group, they go out at 12:54. In the group just before then, teeing off at 12:43, Ayaka Foodway, Jinhi Im, and Soulheim Cup star Lynn Grunt who has joined us here on the range. Lynn, thank you so much for giving up your time following the warmup. I take it you’ve gone through the bag, you’ve made your preparations. How’s the game feeling? Um, yeah, I’m just starting warming up today, but um, it feels good. I know. I mean, my moto this week is just go out and have fun and uh enjoying playing in the breezy conditions and make the most out of it. Um really try to stay as relaxed as possible. You know, it’s going to you’re going to get some knocks out there, I’m sure. Um not get too frustrated with some bad lies and yeah, just have fun. This is your kind of golf, isn’t it? In the wind. You love it like this. I enjoy it. Yeah. But you just have to have the right mindset when you go out there. You can’t be too demanding of your game. and um just you know be really open for anything to happen. And what have you made of Royal P call? I take it you’ve never been here before. So many of the field have never seen this golf course before. What are your first impressions? I love it. I mean I went out on the back n on Monday and I just said this is such a nice place. Um I think it’s Lynx golf at its best. You know uh you get rewarded for hitting really good shots but you can also get get punished for not hitting them. So, I think there’s a good balance to it. Um, feel like you can score really low, but it always has to do with the wind and and the conditions of the day. And weatherwise, players point of view, we’re always looking right wrong side of the draws. You must have been delighted when that yellow circle in the sky came out. I mean, it’s looking good today for sure, but then, you know, I I tried to not look at the weather app too much this week. Um, just know that I have to be prepared for anything before I go out. Lynn, we thought patience might play a big factor this week, knowing when to, you know, kind of accept par, play for par, and when to go for it. Has that been something you’ve thought about in your preparation around here? And and and how do you strategize? Hey, now’s the time to to really go for it, hit the shot, try to make birdie, or maybe, hey, par’s a good score. I feel like par is always a good score out here. Um, I mean, even looking at the par fives, they are reachable, uh, most of them. And but there are still still some tricks to them. Um but like I said, not go out and expect too much. I mean, a score on 72 or 71 today is is really good and and just try to have four rounds where I keep myself patient and um enjoy my days. First time that the AIG Women’s Open has been held in Wales. What are your your impressions of of the country, the culture? Where are you staying? How have you been soaking it up? Oh, it’s great. We’re staying in Bridge End, like 20 minutes from here. Um, I think it’s a cute little place. I mean, obviously the area around the golf course is always amazing and, um, there is a lot of golfing spirit here. So, um, it’s always fun to come back to the AIG and play in places like this, um, where golf is such a, you know, a big historical part of of, uh, the city. And you’ll have great galleries following you, I’m sure, Lynn, thank you so much for giving up your time. We’ll let you go and and get your workout underway. get get everything warmed up and and head out on the course Lin Grant teeing off at 12:43 uh later on this afternoon and then we say as that that group of the the three L’s Lydia Co, Liliau, Lotty W they go off at 12:54 and then a little bit further down um the tea times 1316 Aria Jutanagan Nelly Corder and Angel Yint off. the world number one getting her campaign underway at uh 16 minutes past 1. Just a quick check at the leaderboard. I think my iPad is still up today. It’s very hard, isn’t it, to tell whether the the signal is reaching down here on the range. Chisato Eyar Andrea Lee has joined her at four under par. The Americans, so a two-way tie at the top of the leaderboard. Mao Saigo, um major champion from earlier on this year, she’s at three under par. And then a bunch of them all at two under par. How many is that? Six players at two under par including Amy Yang, Maya Stark, and the world number two Gino Title. Rose Zang is in there as well. But let’s get out onto the course and catch up with some of the action. And Richard Kaufman is out there after backto- back birdies. An Eagle part now at the par 59 for Gino Titigan. Yeah, she had a great second shot. 202 y center of the green. Left herself 30 foot for eagle uphill right to left. Should we go a little left to right at the end? Has she read it right? Has she? Not quite. She’s hit a great putt. But has it stayed out for Eagle? Is she going to just step up and tap this in? I think she will do. It will be three birdies in a row for Gino Titigan. She’s at two under. Charlie Hull looking to make it four birdies in a row to end this front nine. Yeah, she’s had the perfect response to a disappointing start. 12 feet right to left for Birdie on the ninth. And there it is. Flag stayed in as it always does for Charlie. And that’s a great putt. Four in a row. Takes her into red figures. Well, the way she started, you thought this was going to be a disappointing day for Charlie Hall. Birdies at six, seven, eight, and now nine. And she turns one under par. So, Mi Lee to make it three birdie fours in this group. No problem at all. Knocks it in from four feet. Well, they have a bounce in their state, don’t they? These three heading into the back nine. Yeah, another reachable par five. They’ve all made the most of, and that’s what they need to do out here today. They know the par five, so they have to make their score. And for those these three players, that’s exactly what they’ve done on the ninth hole. Three birdies to wrap up the front line. Tough starts, but all three players head to the back nine, underpar, Gino at two under, Miy Lee, and Charlie Hull at one under. How about that? Four birdies on the bounce for England’s Charlie Hull. And you were saying, Randy, patience is going to be a factor. Sophie, you were saying that a big score early on, you you’ve just got to put that behind you because there is a scorable opportunity out there and you can get on a run. And Charlie Hull has just proved that. Don’t look at the score, just play golf. And I’m sure that’s what Adam Woodward would be telling her. Just settle into it, Charlie. Because she is she’s she’s excitable in one aspect, but she’s nervy in another. That’s why she’s so great to watch. You mentioned Lotty Wo, you know, it’s just like this, but from a media point of view, we want the highs and the lows. Um, yeah, I just did a mini fist pump there because it was called on camera. Yeah, sorry. I’m quite a I am a fan of Charlie. I can’t lie. And I just I’m desperately wanting her to do well because that’s what you you live it with her, don’t you? She’s very similar to Rory Maroy when you watch her play golf. And if she’s playing well, then all these people are going to come out to watch her. She’s such a role model. There’s so many little girls here today with the blonde ponytail and and you can even buy a ball marker with Charlie Hull’s like face on the side. And she’s put a actually I must say she hasn’t had her sunglasses on recently since she’s not been very well. I’ve not seen her in those aviators. So she might need to get those back on. But I think she’s just showing us now as the day progresses how Royal P progresses into the into the round of golf. Do you think Randy there’s an element of Charlie Hull that’s like look you know you may all be talking about Lotty W this new English superstar but I’ve got a point to prove I think so I I think any professional athlete has has that competitiveness right she’ll she would never admit it and she shouldn’t say something like that but I would think deep down there’s there’s probably an aspect to that and I I think moving off Charlie too I I think Nelly Corda would probably be feeling the same thing this week right um we we talked about that last night on our podcast. I I I think it’s a good point. Um and I think it’s one of the things I’m I’m so curious to see how how some of these women that have been top five, have been in the heat of competition like this, how they react this week. And I’ve been on record, you know, I’m a stats girl cat. Her first rounds have not been good enough. She has been that two shots behind the likes of Corder and Gino Titkin. And she’s behind the eightball too much. If she can go and post something around level par or better, which is now is exactly what is needed, then then things can change because you can’t be giving these players a head start. And she did at the she did in the first hour of golf, but well done for coming back. Do you think there’s a level of expectation in Charlie that’s a lot lower coming into this round, this major championship than there has been in the past? She’s not been very well. We saw her collapse at the Evian. She has the virus. She’s talked about how long it’s taken her to get over that. Then she’s injured her back mending a gate. I mean, only Charlie I the number of injuries she’s had from bizarre circumstances. Charlie throwing toys for her dog, slipping off a pavement. I can’t remember them all, but there’s always something. There’s always a bit of drama, isn’t there? But she talked her chances down hugely in the press conference yesterday. The line that stuck with me is that I want to see my name on the trophy. That’s the first you say she’s spoken it down, but that line it was like a snap reaction to I don’t want to be in the limelight. I want my name on the trophy. And I thought yes, that’s what I want. And then when you looked at her warming up in terms of her team around her, couple of coaches, obviously the caddy, she’s got her best friend James here. She’s got her fitness coach here. They are circling around Charlie and making her as comfortable as possible. Home comforts is when Charlie Hall plays at her best. and that team know that and they and she’s very um you know she’s an individual individual sports person but I I think the family and the friends realize that she’s not at 100%. And Charlie needs needs them and they’ve come down to support her which is that’s what that’s the team that not everybody else sees and she’s given her fans something to cheer about. And she mentioned when she was at the Scottish Open she maybe only feels 80% fit. There’s nothing like a few birdies that make you feel better. And she’s been out for a jog, which is what Charlie Hull needs. So, she’s back jogging after a couple of weeks off with this this horrible virus that struck her down at the Evian. Delighted to say we’ve got another guest joining us on the This is the best place to be. People are passing by all the time. There’s a huge crowd leaning on the railings here, watching the world’s best players warming up. And Trey Nevin has joined us. Hello, Trey. Trey is a a broadcaster. You’re a PGA professional. You’re a coach. You’re a general golf needle mover. Sounds good. And I’ve given you all kinds of titles there, Trey. Thank you so much for for giving your time to come and talk to us. What are you making of the first day of the AIG Women’s Open? Oh, I mean, I have to say like throughout the course of a year, I hold my hands up. I don’t watch enough women’s golf, but I remember speaking to Sofa about this last year at St. Andrews. I was at St. Andrews, watched the whole tournament, and it was absolutely awesome. And I said to myself, I’m going to be here next year and do it again. And I’m in the same situation where I get here and I get excited uncovering new talent, seeing some of the superstars, Yanelli’s Lotty, who is obviously on a on her way headlines and doing doing everything that she’s doing right now. But it’s an exciting week. I mean, new golf course as well to host this event and it’s a prestigious golf course. Um, and also the weather. I mean, what more can you want in it? And Ry’s going to probably already told you about the weather, but we’re getting everything. I expected rain this morning, came out and it’s actually nice and sunny, but I’m just excited to be here. And that’s I as it’s important for people in the media to say that I want to be there that I wor with Trey a couple of months before the AIG Women’s Open last year and we must have been covering some LPJ and PGA tour together down in London and he said to me, I’ve got to be there. I’m going to make an effort and be there. And it’s not about, you know, somebody’s got to pay me to be there as a job. Trey’s going, “No, I’ll be there. If you want me, you can use me, but I’m excited to get down to to to P call or to St. Andrews.” And that’s what the women’s game needs. It needs these allies. I I was just going to say, Trey, my my experience was exactly similar to yours just a couple years earlier when when the women’s open went to Murfield in 2022. It was I circled it on my calendar and said I need I need to be at that event. It was significant for this championship to go to Mirfield in and of itself. I had never seen that golf course and I I had the best time, right? The weather was was wonderful. It was a it was a heck of an ending there with Ash Buhai winning in a playoff and now this is my fourth consecutive Women’s Open. So, I look forward to seeing you in the years to come also. No, I appreciate it. I’m excited and even just reminiscing off last year like the chase and everybody that was in the mix and what it came down to um on the last hole at a special venue like that as well and I’m hoping we get some similar come Sunday. So we’ve got the big stars that you’re excited to see again. You mentioned Lotty who’s going to be heading out on the range here any minute. We’ve got Nelly Corder who you mentioned you enjoyed following her at St. Andrews. Who’s the new talent that you’re looking to follow? Who’s who are you hoping shines this week? Um Helen Breen obviously she turned pro last year did her thing on Access and got her wins over there turned pro and then won her first event on LE. I mean when I see girls like that come out with excitement and different swings as well. I mean she absolutely rips the ball. She’s really really nice girl as well. But I just she’s tall. Yeah. She is as tall as Randy. I’m looking up. She’s the tallest player in the in the field. She’s I think she’s the tallest player ever on the Ladies European tour. But girls like that, they’re exciting to watch as well. They just bring that little bit of something where it kind of catches your eye. You see her on the range and it catches your eye. You see her on the golf course, it catches your eye. And we’re as golf fans and fanatics and pundits and broadcasters, we’re always looking for a superstar, aren’t we? Who’s going to be the next person to take over this game? And she will be teeing off at 11:48 alongside the Soulheim Cup captain, Anna Norest. So she’ll be looking to make a good impression, won’t she, on the former champion and Aki Ew, whose sister is up at the top of the leaderboard. So that is going to be a really fascinating dynamic in that group uh to watch. I was talking to you yesterday, Trey, as well about the course itself and you were saying about the opening holes here and how much fear they struck into you when you Yeah, I stood on that ProAmTe on Tuesday morning and I was like, what am I doing here on this first tea? I thought I’d have a break and then I stood on two and it was exactly the same thing. But luckily I got a few away. But we was chatting yesterday and I was I I said it wasn’t actually that rash. I said I think this is the toughest start, at least the toughest six holes that they’ve probably had in a women’s open because we’ve seen Charlie already. I’m sure you’ve spoke already, but what was she? Three over and she made four in a row. I think if you stood on six or 70, a couple over par, you you got to be happy with that. I mean, it’s not actually that bad. I think this course is all about managing your expectations, understanding that bogeies are actually okay, and just managing to limit the damage. I guess the wind is obviously a huge factor on those opening holes, whistling as it does off the sea, which is all down the left. What else is out there? What other traps are there? I mean, it’s Well, I was speaking about this two weeks ago at Port Rush. Harry Colt um had his touch on the course. A lot of natural undulations and then you’ve got very similar stuff here as well when you see it on TV. I hope the cameras can pick it up, but every fairway has got some very subtle nuances to it where you might be on an ups slope, a side slope or a down slope and it can really pay a huge factor into the approach shot of being able to get it close. played with Colottus Saganda and she said to me about the premium in playing from the fairways and being able to control the ball downwind, crosswinds because this course really does 360. So, there’s lots of different things to it and it’s going to be so exciting to see how the girls get on this week here. Now, we have a very small table here at the range. We’ve already got four people standing around it. We’re going to bring in a fifth. It’s getting very crowded here. Delighted to say we’re joined by the 2023 champion, Lilia Vu. Lilia, thank you so much for giving up your time here on the range. How are you finding Royal Pool and how how much at home are you here in Wales? Not so much like home, but it’s super beautiful. It’s going to be tough and fun, super windy. I’m actually staying nearby on the course, so it’s been cool to be around here. The weather’s perfect, so hopefully it stays like that for the rest of the week. I heard you’re in a static caravan. Is that true? It’s changed. No, I’m confused. No, I thought I was told you were staying in a stat. Sophie had got some intel earlier. I spoke to mom earlier in the week. Sorry. Change in booking. Yes, almost, but not quite. But you’re comfortable and you’re happy and you’re near the course. Absolutely. And what do you what have you made of the course? Practice rounds. How have they gone for you? Yeah, it’s been pretty fun. This course kind of reminds me of Mirfield a couple years ago, but should be difficult for everybody, the windy conditions, and yeah, I think you got to be smart off the tease. You’ve won this championship. How much does it mean to for you to be a defending champion and a past champion? Yeah, it means a lot. I mean, I think this is my favorite win out of everything. I mean, I’ve come back from that injury in the same year and means a lot to me. It kind of, you know, transgressed my career, kind of reminded me that I’m resilient and that’s something that I need to remind myself about a lot. And yeah, it’s been so fun and I’m happy to be here. Sorry, Lilia, this is a non-golf question, so I hope you don’t mind. I know you’re a big reader. Can you talk to me about what you’ve been reading lately? Um, yeah. So, I finished Inner Excellence a couple months ago, but what I’ve been going back to a lot is Be Water, My Friend by Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee’s daughter. That’s kind of the theme of it is just be adaptable, and that’s what I try to do every single day. So, that’s what I’ve been reading. Best of luck taking that out onto the golf course. Thank you so much for coming to join us. We’ll let you crack on. And you’ve got also can I just ask you about the other players in your group? You’ve got Lydia Co and you’ve got Lotty W. I mean, this is this is the marquee group of the day, isn’t it? Yes, I’m super excited to play with them. There’s going to be a lot of people watching. You know, Lah is super great. She’s had an amazing run the past couple of weeks. It’s amazing. So, I’ll be very excited to play with her. Brilliant. Well, go out and enjoy it. Thank you so much, Lilia. We’ll get let you go out and and get your preparations finished off. Lilia Vu there, the 2023 champion at Walton Heath. What a great week that was in the sunshine and that battle with Charlie Hull on the final day. Um, great to see Lilia back here. Not in a static caravan though. I’m I’m a bit sad about that. I thought that was a great story to Mabon. Um, I think it was yesterday and I didn’t update you. So, they have changed to a hotel, but they’re on the the third floor and there’s no lift. So, I’m slightly worried about Lilia’s back if she’s got the lift or that suitcases up there because that has been the story of Lilia Vu the last few years. Yes, she’s had a couple of major championship wins, but she’s been injured. She’s quite a bad back injury, and this has been the year that she’s come back. And interestingly, she said about reading that book. That was the book that she read when she was really struggling with her game. So, Liliau came out onto the LPGA tour, missed every cut, and had to go back to the feeder tour below it, and really lost herself and her game. And that book was the one that really got her on track. and the fact that she’s reading it again. So often with us players, it’s let’s go back to what worked then. This this is a big three ball for her. I know, you know, as a champion, you’d want to be in that three ball, but right now I think she would take hiding a little bit just to get back into it. She not the kind of player that that would would enjoy being followed by the galleries at the moment. Well, unfortunately, Lilia is has not had the greatest form. Um, she did have a runner up this year in late March at the Ford Championship on the LPGA tour. Since then, has not made a cut. And I I you know, Sophie mentioned her her back injury. I mean, she she was very open. She didn’t know if she would be playing golf again uh with with the back injury. And I think that I I’m sure lingers, right? There’s always some type of fear uh when whenever you get out on the golf course that will it come back. And so I just hope getting back to the AIG Women’s Open, you know, obviously she won in 2023. She was part of the runnerup group last year at the old course. I really hope, you know, she can summon something. Uh maybe these these these westerly wins uh off off the Bristol Channel. Uh yeah, find some vibes. Whatever it is, uh golf is a much better place, you know, when Lilia Vu is on top of her game and competing for major championships. It’s tough as well. I think when I when I studied her form from last year to this year and she’d missed a load of cuts, I was looking into it and why and obviously she’s had a back injury, but in a game that’s full of length now, she’s actually dropped a little bit back off the tea due to changing things with her swing and the injury and it must be quite hard for her seeing everyone pick up yards and she’s actually come back off the tea. So, her putting’s still there though. So, hopefully this week bit more roll on the fairway she’s up there. Let’s hope she can rediscover some of that form that won that the AIG Women’s Open a couple of years ago and that she’s lifted by the atmosphere surrounding that marquee group with Lydia Co and Lotty Wo teeing off at 1254. Quick look at the leaderboard tells us that we have a solo leader in America’s Andrea Lee, a US player at the top of the leaderboard. Randy, that makes good reading for you. and Shiu Kuwaki Mao Saigo Chisato Ey three Japanese players in the chasing pack alongside Sara Kuskova at three under par. Let’s get back out onto the course and to Ian Carter. Well, Cat, you were saying that there was a solo leader in the shape of Andrea Lee. It didn’t last because the 14th, let me tell you, is a formidable test. as she turned back towards the sea and into the wind and her T-shot went into the bunker down the left hand side. She splashed out. Couldn’t get up and down from a good 120 yards out. Indeed, missed the green to the left. Two putted from just off the green. So, the first drop shot of the day to Andrea Lee. She slips back to three under par. Amy Yang’s going along very nicely. Followed up her birdie at the 12th with a birdie at the 13th to get to two under. has made a regulation par at this 14th hole. But unfortunately from Leona Maguire’s point of view, she also drove into the bunker that swallowed up Andrea Lee’s ball and that resulted in another bogey for the Irish woman who slips back to two overpar. Our group now waiting on the par three 15th team. So five players now tied at the top of the leaderboard at three under par. Trey, what’s your plan for the rest of the day? Are you getting back out on the course going to see some of the action? Yeah, I’m definitely going to get out and watch watch some of the girls, see how they’re I’m going to study them first six actually. I said it earlier, didn’t I? Um see how they’re playing, what sort of T-shots club hit. And got a couple of Q&As’s actually one with Dame, Laura, and Charlie hopefully when she finishes her round. So hopefully she’s in good spirits and can finish finish strongly. So yeah, that’s me for the afternoon. That sounds brilliant. Good couple of conversations there, Trey. We’re going to let you go and prep for that, but thank you so much and hopefully you’ll join us on the range again later on in the week. Share your thoughts on the rest of the major. We’re still here on the range on day one of the AIG Women’s Open here at Royal Pall. It is getting busy. There’s a crowd here now leaning on the rails because there are some big names just arriving here on the range to make their final preparations. At Georgia Hall is just walking along behind us here. She’s heading off. And right behind us, I don’t know if you can see, is Darcy Harry. Now this is the Welsh um girl, the Welsh star who is a member here at Royal Pall and she won in Belgium on the le the ladies European tour. It’s her rookie season and that has qualified her to play here at the Women’s Open at her home club and that’s a fairy tale in the in the making, isn’t it Sophie? I bet she’s not used to all these signs of people watching and cameras. It’s normally a lot quieter here for Darcy. She mentioned how these tea boxes, I’ve never played from those before. Um, but it is it’s it’s a fairy tale. It’s the first time this event has been in Wales and it would have been marks on her calendar. All the members would have been saying, “Are you playing? Are you playing?” And she wasn’t qualified. So, the fact that she got in through the ladies European tournament, she didn’t have to go to pre-qualifying. I bet she’s glad there’s some railings here cuz the amount of people that are going to be coming out to watch Darcy today, she needs to stay clear of them. But yeah, what what a wonderful wonderful experience and let’s hope she takes it all in. She said that she knows it’s going to be a nerve-wracking week for her. I mean, it’s quite um a mature approach, isn’t it, to already expect that and to already anticipate how it’s going to feel on that first te? Absolutely. You know, I hope they gave her extra tick ticket aotment for this week. I’m sure she had uh not as many as as she could give away. Um, I think today is a big day specifically for Darcy. I I think getting out, as we said, being patient, especially these first couple holes, if she can get off to a good start, I think that would go a long way for her. If she could post something around 71, 72, I think that would be a dream start and let her kind of settle into this week and hopefully build momentum as the weekend uh progresses. Patience, pause, and process. You’ve mentioned the three L’s. I think we’re going for the three. We got it. We got it. I I was going to say sorry, real quick, too. I was so uh delighted to see the the RNA put out a a media guide for this championship. And they have Darcy talking through giving her thoughts on each of the holes, which I thought was an excellent touch. I I hope she didn’t give away too much if any of her competitors were reading that as well, though. Who better to do a course guide than Royal PC Call member Darcy Harry? and she is just going through her bag now, going through her uh wedges. And next to her, tying up his shoelaces is Jacob Scov Olison, who is her boyfriend, and he is also a player on the DP World Tour. He was the leader of the Open Championship after the first round um just a week ago at Royal Port Rush. And so he’s going to be bringing all of his expertise. In fact, he was on the bag for her when she won in Belgium. Indeed, Caddy in the M and Darcy offered to Caddy at Royal Port Rush. She said no. So, she she just walked around. But what what a year these two rookies have had, both of them qualifying for their open championships and experiencing it together. She’d take five under today just she definitely would. Obviously, he didn’t have a great day the following day and and made the cut, though. Made the cut. Exactly. But what is a lovely dynamic between the two of them is the competition between the two of them. The fact that on their rookie seasons they compare their results and whoever gets the lowest score that week is bought dinner by the person with the highest score. I think that is that’s a nice dynamic, isn’t it? Yeah. So you lose money twice, surely the winner buys dinner. Let’s get back out onto the course, shall we? We’ll leave Darcy Harry to go through her bag. Richard Kaufman can can bring us up to date. Gino Titikkin, the halfway leader at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the leader after 71 holes at the Evian Championship just three weeks ago, and now a putt to take a share of the lead at the AIG Women’s Open around 6 feet at the par 312. You would have got a great read off Mingji. Same line. Do you know how to move a marker? So, it was perfect line. Get a read. Six foot up the hill. There it is. That’s another birdie for Gino which takes her to share the lead at minus three. Is it her time? Gino Titikken gets to three under par. So Gino Titiken joining the leaders at three under par here on the range. We’ve just had the first glimpse of the name on everybody’s lips. Lotty Wing past as she’s gone down to the kind of far left end of the range. She’s smiling. She’s just doing some twists with the club wrapped around her shoulder blades. She’s got her coaches there and her caddy and she looks incredibly relaxed and in true Lotty style down the left hand side of the range would mean that one she’s far away from us and two she is playing downwind rather than across wind. She’s worked it out. That’s where every pro wants that left hand side because it won’t affect her shots as much. She’s there with Luke Bone her childhood coach from Farnum Golf Club. All smiles dressed in Le United white. Le United white. Very good observation there. I was just going to say for the people especially listening Lahi Wde we’re saying is at the far end of the range and it’s just major champions to her right. Lilia Vu who we talked to earlier. You have Jin Young Co to Lilia Vu’s right. You have Georgia Hall. You have Ayaka Fuway. It it is fantastic scenes right now out here on the driving range. And then Cat DS is next to her. and me and then Sophie. Yeah, come on. Um, we’ve got Nelly Corder as well who’ll be walking out shortly, the world number one. We’ve not touched on her on day one of the AIG um, Women’s Open. She te’s off at just after quarter 1 alongside Aria Gutanagan, former champion of course uh, and Angel Yin. What do we make of Nelly Corder’s chances coming in? Because uncharacteristically for Nelly Cer, there’s been no win in the books so far. It’s what we’ve come to expect of her though, Sophie. It is. After last year’s just phenomenal season, I I like the look of Nelly. Um her ball flight, she she says she likes to see the ball come out low. She likes a lower trajectory. I think she’s the best 3-wood player in the world, and you’re going to need these these threewoods a lot out here. Ran so close last year at St. Andrews. I mean, she was tearful coming off that 18th green because she was right in it. And she would take that going into Sunday, just getting in the mix. She’s had a handful of top 10s. Would just love that major championship. If she does, she gets to she gets to that third major. And I think in the women’s game at the moment, three seems to be the one that everyone’s looking at. We’ve seen Lydia Co get there, Miy Lee get there, and and Nelly will be thinking, well, I’ve only got one more chance to do that this year. world number one. I mean, it’s hard to say she’s going under the radar because nobody’s talking about her, but you know, you should be. That is a stellar three ball that you’ll be following later. C. I will. I’m out with them. I can’t wait for that on AIG uh Women’s Open Radio and Five Sports Extra. Um, it’s windy though, Randy. And she doesn’t like the wind. You are also tall. She’s 5′ 10, so you’ve got another kind of foot on on Ellie Corder. She says it makes her sway, and you say it gives you the same problem when you play golf. I I do. I I I empathize with that. You know, I I think um it’s just if if you don’t have a wide solid base, you know, if it gets really windy, you you do feel that swaying motion. And I know for Nelly, she says it it can really affect her golf swing. It it can lead to some bad habits. And so, it’ll be interesting this week. I think today’s a big day for Nelly Corda, right? I I think she has to post a a good score. certainly doesn’t have to be leading today, but I would love to see her get out, be amongst that top 20, and really set herself up for the next three days. Sophie, there’s a myth that she’s not great in bad conditions. I’ve seen her on the Ladies European tour shoot some incredible rounds, and that for me is a total myth. So, Nelly Corder, the world number one, she te’s off at uh 16 minutes past three. Looking down the leaderboard, we have a big bunch of players at three under par. Shiho Kuwaki of Japan, Mao Saigo of Japan, Chisato Ew of Japan. We’ve been talking about the depth and the strength in Japanese women’s golf. Andrea Lee of America also at three underpar. Gino Titikin the world number two, she is at three underpar. Alexa Pano at three under par. And Sar Kuska is at three underpar. Thank you very much to Sophie and to Randy for your company here on the range day one of the AIG Women’s Open. But from me for now, we’ll get out to the action and we’ll get back to the commentary. We’ll bring you every shot now for the afternoon here live on AIG Women’s Open Radio and on BBC 5 Sports Extra. Live from Royal Pall, this is AIG Women’s Open. No one can break me when I’m out of control. No one can break me when I’m