'No doubt' Hull finds elusive major but can she build Korda rivalry?

Former AIG Women's Open champion Karen Stupples has "no doubt" Charley Hull will end her wait for an elusive major title and would relish a "dream" rivalry between the Englishwoman and Nelly Korda.

Hull narrowly missed out on becoming the first Englishwoman to win a major since 2018 during the US Women's Open, where she finished tied-second alongside Gaby Lopez as Korda claimed a one-shot victory at Riviera Country Club.

Korda's back-to-back major titles extended her advantage as world No 1 and continued her dominant start to the 2026 season, while Hull was left settling for a fifth runner-up finish of her major career.

Nelly Korda's US Women's Open win - as it happened

Charley Hull rues 'frustrating' major near-miss

When are the majors? Key dates, results in 2026

Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Hull admitted it was "frustrating" to fall short again, just as she did during the 2023 edition, although Stupples - one of just four Englishwomen to win a major - has full faith in the 30-year-old to eventually claim a major victory.

"There is not a single doubt in my mind that she is going to win a major," former major champion Karen Stupples told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. "It may be the case that she ends up winning at Royal Lytham this year because of this experience that she's had here.

Subscribe now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Spreaker

"I remember last time when the US Women's Open was in California, it was at Pebble Beach. She came so close there at Pebble Beach, then she went on to Walton Heath and she played really well at Walton Heath.

"She's going to keep putting herself in these positions and ultimately something has to stick. If you keep putting yourself in this spot, eventually you're going to win - that's where I think she is.

"I mean, her game is so well suited for the majors. I think now with her short game, with her putting, with the work she's been doing, I think it's just tremendous. I think it's those little bits that she's doing with the short game that are really going to push her to that next level."

Hull was seven strokes off the halfway lead and outside the top 40 after rounds of 73 and 72 over the first two days at Riviera Country Club, only to charge back into contention with a third-round 65 - the lowest of her major career - on Saturday.

She eagled the par-five first hole during her final round and added five birdies, briefly moving to the solo lead after picking up a shot at the 11th, although stuttered once top of the leaderboard and ended one back after a four-under 67.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"She [Hull] does say that she likes to chase but she thoroughly enjoys that heat of the battle, being in contention and competing to win," Stupples added. "She is doing everything she can to win.

"Over here in America, they have a saying: 'the prevent defense', which is when American football teams have a good lead and then they try to prevent the other team from scoring, as opposed to just playing their game and trying to score more.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"Prevent defense never works and it always drives me nuts when my teams try and play that way. I think it's the same with Charlie on the golf course. She can't play defensively - that's not who she is and how she plays golf.

"Ultimately when you're playing, you have to be true to you and to your golf DNA and who you are on the golf course, because it doesn't work if you're anything else. I understand why she did [stay aggressive] and I think that it will eventually lead to wins."

Korda's victory followed April's Chevron Championship success and sees her become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win the first two majors of the calendar year, while Hull's runner-up finish lifts her to fourth in the latest world rankings.

Both will be among the favourites for the final three majors of the year ahead of their appearances on opposing sides at the Solheim Cup this September, also live on Sky Sports, with Stupples relishing the idea of the two fan favourites going head-to-head in the months and years ahead.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player