Nelly Korda has enjoyed a fine 2026 and, heading into the AIG Women’s Open, she is once again the favorite to wrap-up a third Major of the season.
Being played at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the Major is the only one on the women’s calendar to be held at a links course, which has forced Korda to introduce something to her bag for the first time at the championship.
Speaking in her press conference, the World No.1 revealed a change to her reliable equipment set-up.
Talking about strategy to tackle the Lancashire layout, Korda stated: “Yeah, not many drivers off the tee. Probably max four or five.
“I have put a 4-iron into play this week, which I don’t think I’ve ever done in a British (Open) because I’ve just never really hit it that good.
“I have a little bit of a lower ball flight, so always worked with my hybrid. I really like this 4-iron. I tested it out at KPMG and I’m putting it into play this week.”
Korda during her practice round on Wednesday
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Korda isn’t known for changing her set-up often, with the four-time Major winner using a TaylorMade Qi4D driver, TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway woods and a Ping G425 hybrid.
Usually, her iron configuration consists of a TaylorMade P770 5-iron, P7CBs from 6-iron to pitching wedge, as well as a mix of TaylorMade and Titleist wedges.
At the AIG Women’s Open, though, it seems the Ping G425 hybrid has been taken out for the 4-iron, which we believe is the same TaylorMade P770 model as her 5-iron.
One aspect that is unlikely to have changed is the shaft in the irons, as Korda uses AeroTech SteelFiber i80 CW throughout her whole set-up.
Miyu Yamashita comes into the championship as the defending champion
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Going into the final Major of 2026, Korda is favorite, but the American hasn’t had it all her way in the women’s big five championships, with Haeran Ryu matching the 28-year-old.
Korda may have won the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open, but Ryu matched her with victories at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship.
The duo will battle it out for the chance to finish the season with three Major crowns, but there are still plenty of big names looking to stop them.
Miyu Yamashita is the defending champion and in good form following her Meijer LPGA Classic win in June.
Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are flying the home flag at Royal Lytham & St Annes, while Jeeno Thitikul, Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin and Sei Young Kim are also among the betting favorites.
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