Alice Hewson carded a round of 70 (-1) after hitting the opening tee shot at the 2026 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The English star had a very early start for her 6.30 am tee time but was rewarded with an excellent opening shot leaving a five-foot birdie putt which she duly rolled in.
“It was a huge honour to get to hit the opening tee shot,” said Hewson. “Being local as well, it just means so much more. I actually wasn’t quite as nervous as I maybe expected to be but and it definitely helped being downwind. It meant it was only a 7-iron versus 5-iron in practice. It was nice to get away with a good one to start.
“My mum came out today and Dad was home looking after the dog, but he will be up here tomorrow. My mum was awake bright and early, she’s staying with me about five minutes from the course. We actually beat the people into the player’s lounge this morning!”
Hewson then made a bogey on the second hole but bounced back with an eagle on the sixth and a birdie on the seventh to sit at the top of the leaderboard from the early starters.
She closed with bogeys on 16 and 17 to seal her round of one-under-par on day one of the final Major championship of the year.
The three-time LET winner continued: “[On her eagle] I hit a nice tee shot down the right-hand side, which left me a good angle in. I hit a nice 3-wood to the middle of the green and rolled in a nice putt. I didn’t see too many go in the rest of the round, but it always feels nice to get the big bird out.
“Charlie [her caddie] was great. He was very excited, he had to work pretty hard coming down those final few holes. I put us in a couple of interesting little spots. I think he had a great day and it was good to get a solid round to start a major.”
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