Yealimi Noh seized the opportunity presented by Haeran Ryu’s misstep to claim the third‑round lead at the AIG Women’s Open, while England’s Lottie Woad and Charley Hull remained very much in the hunt for the championship. Ryu entered the round perched atop the leaderboard, chasing a third straight major title. She opened with a four‑stroke advantage at Royal Lytham & St Annes, but an erratic stretch of eight holes saw her card five bogeys and finish with a three‑over 74, erasing much of her early dominance.

Noh began the day two strokes behind Ryu. After a shaky start that included two bogeys in her first five holes, she found her rhythm around the turn, stringing together a burst of birdies that propelled her to a two‑under 69. That round vaulted her into a three‑shot lead heading into the final day, putting her at seven under par and within striking distance of her first major triumph. Trailing the leader, Ryu found herself tied for second with Jeeno Thitkul, Lucy Li and Shiho Kuwaki, all of whom remain in contention but must make up ground quickly.

Woad sits four shots back, while Hull trails by an additional stroke, setting the stage for a potential English surge on Sunday’s decisive round. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, after a double‑bogey on the 18th, fell to eight shots behind at one over par. Ryu’s day began positively, as she moved from the lead into a four‑stroke cushion with consecutive birdies on holes three and four.

A brief lull followed when both she and her partner made bogeys on the next par‑three, but Ryu quickly re‑established her margin by capitalising on a long par‑five, only to see her momentum dissolve on the seventh. A wayward tee shot landed in the rough, forcing an unplayable lie and a costly penalty that began a string of mistakes. Kuwaki stayed close, matching Ryu’s early birdies and keeping the gap to a single stroke at the turn. However, Ryu’s misfortune continued on the 10th, where she required two attempts to escape a bunker and ultimately made bogey.

Meanwhile, Noh, playing ahead of the leaders, rattled off three straight birdies from the ninth onward, pulling herself level with Ryu and Kuwaki and creating a three‑way tie at the top of the board. The pressure mounted for Ryu as she stumbled on the 12th and 14th holes, each yielding a bogey. Kuwaki, unable to save par on the 15th, allowed Noh to widen her advantage with a five‑foot birdie on the 16th, giving the American a two‑shot cushion. Kuwaki’s subsequent bogey on the penultimate hole sealed Noh’s lead, positioning her to become the first American to capture the AIG Women’s Open as her maiden major since Mo Martin’s 2014 victory.

Reflecting on her performance, Noh told Sky Sports, “It was a little bit of a rocky start, but my putting was solid and my shots too. I just settled into a better routine and focused on my tempo on the back nine.

I’m just happy to be in this position and ready to go again.” Her composure and steady ball‑striking have been the hallmarks of her ascent, and she now eyes a historic win. German contender Esther Henseleit displayed early promise, carding five birdies in her first ten holes before a bogey on the 15th.

Already assured of a Solheim Cup spot via her world ranking, Henseleit needs a solo second‑place finish or better to overtake Chiara Tamburlini on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit. Woad, ranked fifth globally, can also eclipse Tamburlini with a solo third‑place finish, and she has been mixing three birdies with two bogeys to stay well positioned for a breakthrough.

Woad shared her thoughts with Sky Sports: “It’s a good position to be in. I should be a few back. I’ll stick to my game plan and see what happens. I felt a bit better on the greens today and I scrambled pretty well to get around.” Her confidence in her short‑game and ability to recover from difficult lies will be crucial as she chases a maiden major title.

Hull’s round was a roller‑coaster. After three bogeys in her opening six holes, she rallied with back‑to‑back birdies before dropping another shot on the 10th. The two‑time runner‑up at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years found redemption late, posting consecutive birdies from the 15th onward to finish with a level‑par 71.

Hull explained, “I’m pretty proud; the first six holes I played like a 10‑handicapper, I felt. I missed three putts I should have holed from five feet and in, which would have kept me level par instead of being three over.

I had a bit of a bounce back and I was pretty happy with the way I finished. I was looking at leaderboards – there’s not many out on the golf course, so it’s quite hard to see where you’re at – and I do like to have a sneaky look.” Her resilience and willingness to attack the back‑nine keep her within striking distance of the leaders. As the final round approaches, the narrative is clear: Noh holds the advantage, but Ryu, Woad, Hull and a clutch of other contenders possess the talent and experience to overturn the standings.

Golf fans can tune in to Sky Sports Golf on Sunday from midday to watch the climax of the AIG Women’s Open, with streaming options available for those without a contract. The drama, the shifting momentum, and the pursuit of a first major title promise an unforgettable finale.