Lottie Woad and Charley Hull found themselves just five strokes shy of the midway leader at the AIG Women's Open, while the surging Haeran Ryu surged to the top of another major leaderboard. Ryu, who is aiming to become the first player since Inbee Park to capture three straight majors, clawed back from a three‑over position after the first five holes and then rattled off five birdies, carding a two‑under 69 at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes. That brilliant stretch vaulted her to seven under par, putting her a single shot ahead of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, who had posted an early clubhouse lead with a second‑round 70.
Overnight leader Jeeno Thitikul sat another shot back, with American Solheim Cup hopeful Yealimi Noh also within striking distance. Woad appeared poised to challenge for the outright lead until she stumbled on the back‑nine, finishing a level‑par 71 after two bogeys in her final five holes. Hull mirrored that 71 after a similarly mixed round, leaving both English players two under par as they headed into the weekend. World No.
1 Nelly Korda stayed firmly in contention, improving her standing with a solid 68 that moved her to one under. She remains a realistic challenger to Ryu's bid for a third major of the season.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita, however, fell out of the competition after a disappointing 77 that featured a quadruple‑bogey, missing the cut entirely. Hull admitted she had managed only about three hours of sleep before the second round.
The five‑time major runner‑up used that limited rest to fuel an early surge, erasing a bogey on the third hole with birdies on the sixth and eighth. Mistakes at the 10th and 15th holes caused her to slip back, but a spectacular chip‑in birdie on the par‑four 17th revived her hopes of finally breaking through at a major. Woad, who started her round in the afternoon, missed a chance to save par on the second hole but then produced three birdies over a four‑hole stretch beginning at the sixth.
She remained within two strokes of the lead until a bogey on the 14th and a bunker mishap on the final hole added two more strokes to her total. "Everyone knows a British player will want to win this tournament," Woad told Sky Sports. "You can feel the crowd behind you, but you also sense their nerves.
I try to ignore the pressure and use the support positively. Patience and discipline are key. Par is a good score out here, and I think my approach shots have been solid." Thitikul quickly surrendered her overnight advantage after a bogey on the third hole.
Meanwhile, Kuwaki, playing ahead of several groups, launched a three‑birdie run starting at the fourth, briefly putting her in contention for the outright lead. The world No. 2, however, struggled on the greens throughout her 73‑stroke round.
Kuwaki's round featured a blend of four birdies and three bogeys, and she seemed set to seize the lead until Ryu responded with three birdies over a four‑hole stretch beginning at the seventh, adding another on the par‑four 15th. Ryu sealed her comeback with a 15‑foot birdie putt on the final hole, reinforcing her quest to become only the fifth player in history to win three consecutive major titles.
Ryu was paired with Korda, who had already secured the first two majors of the year. Korda birdied all three par‑fives, turning a modest opening‑round 73 into a five‑shot improvement and moving to one under par. Other notable players in the group included 2024 champion Lydia Ko, former major winner Celine Boutier, and England's Mimi Rhodes, all sitting at one under. Chiara Tamburlini faced a tense wait regarding her Solheim Cup qualification after missing the cut.
Team Europe will confirm its eight automatic qualifiers on Sunday evening, with Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist slated to announce her captain's picks on Monday afternoon live on Sky Sports. Nordqvist herself posted a one‑under 70, keeping her in the mix as the European squad finalizes its lineup. The AIG Women's Open remains wide open, with fans encouraged to follow live coverage throughout the weekend on Sky Sports Golf. The action will continue on Saturday from midday, and viewers can stream the tournament without a contract through the Sky Sports platform.
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Overall, the tournament showcases a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars, each navigating the challenging links at Royal Lytham & St Annes. With Ryu's momentum, Korda's resurgence, and the determined pushes from Woad and Hull, the final rounds promise drama, skill, and the ever‑present hope of a new major champion emerging from the storied fairways.