'Hull overcomes Olympics setback for Women's Open bid'

Britain's Charley Hull is simply a uncommon European dream for this week's AIG Women's Open astatine St Andrews having seemingly turned a area since her disastrous opening 81 astatine nan Olympics earlier this month.

The 28-year-old from Kettering played nan remaining 3 rounds astatine Le Golf National astatine eight-under par meaning that only a half-decent commencement mightiness person put her successful badge contention.

Hull past eased concerns complete her comparative deficiency of links shape pinch an encouraging show astatine nan Scottish Open astatine Dundonald past week.

While not getting up of herself, she is now dreaming of a first awesome triumph astatine nan location of golf.

To do that, she needs to spell 1 amended than past year's runner-up decorativeness to Lilia Vu astatine Walton Heath.

"It would beryllium very special, it would beryllium amazing," she told BBC Sport aft emotion "goosebumps" while stepping up nan celebrated 18th successful practice.

Hull says she will trust connected her caddie Adam Woodward to springiness her instructions connected "tight lines" to combat nan discomfiting influences of nan Old Course's often deceptively wide unfastened views.

Hull has besides worked connected little shot flights to combat expected beardown winds. They worked good successful Ayrshire past week, fuelling assurance for her tilt connected nan people wherever she first competed arsenic a earthy teen successful 2013.

"I’ve ever said that arsenic I get much mature pinch my play game, I will understand it much and play better," Hull said. "Last week coming 5th has fixed maine a small spot of an penetration into really I play links golf, which is good."

Next month, nan world’s 10th-ranked female will play her seventh Solheim Cup pinch astir of her prospective European teammates struggling for nan shape required for nan continent to clasp nan trophy for an unprecedented 4th clip successful a row.

Memories spell backmost to 2021, erstwhile Anna Nordqvist thrillingly won astatine Carnoustie.

She led a European complaint that carried done to arguably nan continent's top Solheim Cup success.

The Swede edged retired compatriot Madelene Sagstrom and Britain's Georgia Hall, pinch Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen besides posting a top-five decorativeness connected nan Angus links.

Europe’s then-captain Catriona Matthew hailed these results arsenic nan cleanable assurance booster earlier her squad went to Toledo, without immoderate support because of Covid restrictions, and sensationally retained nan trophy.

This week, nan existent skipper Suzann Pettersen is hopeless for a akin showing to bolster hopes of retaining that precious portion of trim crystal.

With nan European and American teams being finalised adjacent week for September’s showdown successful Virginia, it is intolerable not to position events present without nan Solheim successful mind.

For Pettersen, location must beryllium concern. Europe's starring subordinate is world number 8 Celine Boutier, but contempt a superb commencement to nan Olympic competition, nan Frenchwoman is immoderate measurement disconnected her best.

She has not posted a top-10 placing since finishing runner-up astatine nan World Championship successful March.

Hall has fallen to 40th successful nan world pinch only 1 apical 10 this twelvemonth - 3rd astatine nan Aramco Series arena astatine Centurion Club successful July. The 2018 champion from Dorset was 12th past week, which does connection a measurement of encouragement.

But Maja Stark, a leader successful nan drawn lucifer astatine Finca Cortesin past year, missed nan trim astatine Dundonald and nan Swede's stock of 10th successful Paris is her only top-10 placing since April.

Leona Maguire is different who is struggling contempt winning nan Aramco event. Since then, nan Irish Solheim prima has grounded to station a top-50 placing successful 4 tournaments.

Spaniard Carlota Ciganda has not recorded a precocious decorativeness since coming sixth successful April's Chevron Championship, while Sagstrom has nary top-10 placings since May.

Bucking nan inclination successful this miserable summertime for starring Europeans is Germany's Esther Henseleit. She is nailed connected for a Solheim debut successful Virginia aft collecting Olympic metallic and past nan runner-up spot astatine Dundonald.

Last week, Henseleit was beaten by Lauren Coughlin, nan American who will beryllium making her first Solheim quality arsenic nan standout subordinate of nan summer.

This has been nan 31-year-old's breakthrough season, winning nan Scottish Open for her 2nd LPGA Tour triumph successful 3 tournaments. Coughlin only cracked nan apical 50 for nan first clip erstwhile she vanished 4th astatine nan Evian Championship successful July.

She is 1 of nan favourites this week but nan aforesaid tin beryllium said of a resurgent Vu, who missed overmuch of nan play pinch injury.

The US prima will relish her title defence, though nan Old Course will coming a importantly different trial to Walton Heath 12 months ago.

World number 1 Nelly Korda won six events successful 7 outings earlier this season, including nan Chevron - nan first awesome of nan year. But her shape has cooled importantly since then.

This would surely beryllium nan cleanable measurement for Olympic golden badge victor Lydia Ko - a New Zealander truthful unburdened by Solheim concerns - to travel up her bonzer Paris victory.

Others to watch include: Amy Yang, Hannah Green, Yin Ruoning and Ayaka Furue - who are among respective starring players reflecting nan increasing spot successful extent of LPGA golf.

The Old Course will beryllium a fascinating test. At 6,784 yards it will play 112 yards longer than successful 2013 erstwhile nan existent US Solheim skipper Stacy Lewis claimed a thrilling victory.

This historical layout will beryllium group up 529 yards shorter than erstwhile Cameron Smith won nan Open successful 2022, but nan women will deed from nan aforesaid tees arsenic nan men connected nan first, ninth, 12th and 18th holes.

Given female hitting distances, we whitethorn spot nan unsocial strategical tests of nan people successful their champion light. It will return fantabulous shot striking, ultimate lag putting connected nan immense double greens and tactical nous to get nan occupation done.

It seems destined to beryllium a glorious measurement to extremity golf's awesome season.