# Chasing Inbee: The Historic Grand Slam Stakes and Broadcast Realities of the 2026 Women's Open

**By Amelie Fontaine**  \nPublished August 11, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> As the 2026 Women's Open arrives at Royal Lytham & St Annes, world No. 1 Nelly Korda and Ryu Hae-ran chase a piece of history last touched by Inbee Park.

When the fifth and final major of the 2026 season convenes at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the historic math on the line carries a weight not seen in professional golf for more than a decade. World No. 1 Nelly Korda captured the first two majors of the campaign, only for Ryu Hae-ran to double up in kind. It marks the first time in the history of the game that two distinct players have secured multiple majors in a single season. Both arrive in Lancashire carrying sights set squarely on emulating Inbee Park, the last player to claim three major titles in a single calendar year back in 2013.

Korda's trajectory toward this moment has been defined by a remarkable baseline of consistency, though she arrives fresh off a rare blemish: missing her first cut in two years earlier in the month. Meanwhile, Miyu Yamashita enters the field with her own piece of history within reach. Victory would make the 24-year-old the first player to go back-to-back in a major since Yani Tseng in 2011, a feat well within her current operational form given that she has finished inside the top five in four of her past six contested tournaments.

For Charley Hull, the setting offers a compelling psychological cushion. Yamashita's triumph a year ago consigned the Briton to her second Women's Open runner-up finish in three years, but history at this specific links layout favors the home contingent. The past two winners of the Women's Open contested at Royal Lytham were British.

## Global Viewing Access and Broadcast Architecture

For fans tuning in across different jurisdictions, navigating the coverage requires careful attention to regional rights holders. In the United Kingdom, full coverage of the Women's Open is available free-to-air on the R&A TV streaming platform, supplemented by a 60-minute nightly highlights show airing at 8:30 PM BST on BBC One Red Button and BBC iPlayer for those with a valid TV licence and UK postcode. Traditional subscription coverage is held by Sky Sports across its Main Event and Sky Sports Golf channels.

In the United States, coverage is distributed across a multi-network pipeline:

- **Golf Channel:** Rounds 1 and 2 from 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM ET.
- **USA Network:** Rounds 1 and 2 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET; Rounds 3 and 4 from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET.
- **NBC:** Rounds 3 and 4 from 12:00 PM to finish, with all NBC windows simulcast on Peacock.Streaming options in the US include Peacock (starting at $10.99/month), Sling Blue ($45.99/month plus an $11/month Sports Extra add-on for Golf Channel), and YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV for users utilizing introductory free trials. In Australia, Fox Sports via Foxtel and Kayo Sports carry the broadcast, while Canadian audiences can utilize TSN Plus.

## The Broader August Landscape

While the spotlight shines intensely on the Lancashire links, the broader professional golf calendar is hitting a fever pitch of logistical movement. As the women's major plays out from July 30 to August 2—overlapping with the PGA Tour's Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club—the men's and women's circuits are locked in intense late-season positioning. Following the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club, where Michael Brennan closed with a 6-under 64 to secure his breakthrough PGA Tour win and a lucrative postseason berth, the focus shifts immediately to the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

Concurrently, the DP World Tour heads to Denmark for the Danish Golf Championship at Great Northern, while the USLPGA Tour lines up the Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. For players on both sides of the Atlantic, every round through August carries immediate structural consequences for their end-of-year standings and 2027 exemptions.

## Sources

- [tsn.ca](https://www.tsn.ca/golf/) — original
- [fih.hockey](https://www.fih.hockey/events/others/women/2026-womens-asian-hockey5s-1931/schedule-fixtures-results) — original
- [techradar.com](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/golf/womens-open-2026-free) — original
- [bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/calendar) — original