Lottie Woad and Charley Hull both find themselves five strokes behind the midway leader at the AIG Women's Open, while the surging Korean star Haeran Ryu has surged to the top of the leaderboard after a strong second round. Ryu, who is chasing a historic three‑in‑a‑row major triumph—a feat not achieved since Inbee Park—overcame a shaky start that left her three over par after the first five holes. She then turned the tide with a flurry of birdies, finishing the round with a two‑under 69 at the storied Royal Lytham & St Annes course.
The world number three’s round lifted her to seven under par, putting her a single stroke ahead of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki. Kuwaki had posted the early clubhouse lead with a solid 70, while overnight leader Jeeno Thitikul fell back a shot, joined by American Solheim Cup hopeful Yealimi Noh, both sitting one shot behind the new leader. Ryu's comeback was marked by five birdies spread across a two‑under performance, showcasing her resilience and pinpoint iron play. Woad appeared poised to challenge for the outright lead for much of her round, but a late‑stage wobble saw her drop two bogeys in the final five holes, resulting in a level‑par 71.
Hull mirrored that score after a mixed round that also left her two under for the tournament. Both English players now head into the weekend sharing the same score, keeping their hopes alive for a breakthrough.
World number one Nelly Korda remains in the mix as well. After an improved second‑round 68, she sits at one under par, still within striking distance of Ryu’s lead.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita, however, missed the cut after a disappointing 77 that included a quadruple‑bogey, ending her title defense early. Hull admitted she had only about three hours of sleep before teeing off for her second round.
The five‑time major runner‑up managed to neutralise an early bogey on the third hole with birdies on the sixth and eighth, briefly climbing back toward the leaders. Mistakes on the 10th and 15th holes caused her to lose ground, but a spectacular chip‑in birdie on the par‑four 17th reignited her confidence and reminded fans of her potential to finally capture a major. Woad, who started her round in the afternoon, missed a par‑saving putt on the second hole but then produced a burst of 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 par‑four dropped her back.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Woad reflected on the pressure of playing in Britain: "Everyone knows a British player wants to win this event. You can feel the crowd’s support, but also their nerves. I try to tune that out and use it positively.
Patience and discipline are key – par is a good score here, and my approach play has been solid." Thitikul quickly surrendered her overnight advantage after a bogey on the third hole. Meanwhile, Kuwaki, playing ahead of many groups, launched a three‑birdie run starting at the fourth, briefly threatening to seize the outright lead.
However, Ryu responded with three birdies over a four‑hole stretch beginning on the seventh and added another on the par‑four 15th, re‑establishing her dominance. Ryu capped her impressive rally with a 15‑foot birdie putt on the final green, reinforcing her bid to become only the fifth player in history to capture three consecutive major titles.
She was paired with Korda, who had already claimed the first two majors of the season. Korda birdied all three par‑fives, improving her round by five strokes from an opening‑round 73 to a respectable 68. Other notable names in the group include 2024 champion Lydia Ko, former major winner Céline Boutier, and England's Mimi Rhodes, all sitting at one under.
Chiara Tamburlini faces a tense wait regarding her Solheim Cup qualification after missing the cut. Team Europe’s eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday evening, with Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist set to announce her captain’s picks on Monday afternoon during a live Sky Sports broadcast. The Swede, currently eight strokes back after a one‑under 70, will be looking to add depth to the European squad. As the tournament progresses, fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf, with coverage extending from midday Saturday onward.
Those interested in experiencing the tournament atmosphere in person can search for nearby courses across the UK and Ireland, though the current search returned no results. The AIG Women's Open remains one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the women's golf calendar, and the battle for the title promises more drama, skill, and potential historic moments as the weekend unfolds.