Hull and Wood provide for home women’s open win

Charley Hull began the week of the final golf major of the year by convincing her caddie Adam Woodward he had won a lottery prize worth £100,000. Unfortunately for Woodward, Hull had bought the ticket in a Blackpool joke shop. The only way he can really hit the jackpot is if his boss breaks her major duck at this week’s AIG Women’s Open.

“He was like, ‘I’ve never won one of these things, but today could be my lucky day’,” Hull told BBC Sport. “And he was scratching it, scratching it, scratching it, and then his face dropped. ‘Oh my god,’ he said. ‘I’ve won 100 grand. I’ve won 100 grand.’ He takes his hat off. He takes his glasses off. He’s got sweat dripping down, he’s shaking, he’s so excited.” Hull then broke the bad news. “I think he nearly quit the job then,” the 30-year-old said. “I felt really bad.”

The Englishwoman has nine professional wins but is yet to land a major title, and she will be among the leading contenders at the year’s final major. World number one Nelly Korda, who won the US Women’s Open, and Japan’s Yuka Saso are also expected to feature prominently.

Another home hope is 22-year-old Lottie Woad, who has been gaining attention after a strong start to her professional career. After her win in Ohio, Woad lost a play-off to Yamashita at the Meijer LPGA Classic, missing a short putt for victory on the final green in Michigan. She says the biggest lesson she has learned is not to be too hard on herself. “Definitely I’ve learned a lot,” said Woad. “Obviously from losing the play-off but having my first lead in a major too. I think it’s quite easy to get frustrated and down yourself. You’re playing every week and obviously all expectations are to try and win and pretty much every week you’re not.”

There are similarities between Woad and Hull, who was also 22 when she won this title here. “I watched it on TV and she was always one of the players I looked up to when I was younger,” Woad said. “If I could do what she did here, then I’ll definitely be happy with that.”

There is plenty to potentially excite home galleries this week  and should either Woad or Hull emerge with the trophy, those fans will know they have held a ticket of genuine value.