Lottie Woad and Charley Hull find themselves five strokes behind the leader at the AIG Women's Open after the second round, while the surging South Korean star Haeran Ryu has surged to the top of the leaderboard. Ryu, who is eyeing a historic third straight major victory—a feat not achieved since Inbee Park—overcame a shaky start that saw her three over par after the first five holes.
She then produced a stunning run of five birdies, carding a two-under 69 at the famed Royal Lytham & St Annes course. The world No. 3’s brilliant comeback lifted her to seven under par, putting her a single stroke ahead of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, who posted a solid 70 to claim the early clubhouse lead.
Overnight leader Jeeno Thitikul sits just one shot further back, with American Solheim Cup hopeful Yealimi Noh also lingering close to the top of the field. Woad appeared poised to challenge for the outright lead until she stumbled in the closing stages, posting a level‑par 71 that included two bogeys in her final five holes.
Hull recorded an identical 71 after a mixed round of highs and lows, leaving both English players two under par as they head into the weekend. World No.
1 Nelly Korda remains in the mix, having improved her standing with a second‑round 68 that moved her to one under. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita, however, missed the cut after a disappointing 77 that featured a quadruple‑bogey.
Hull admitted she entered the round with only about three hours of sleep, yet the five‑time major runner‑up managed to erase a early bogey on the third hole with birdies on the sixth and eighth. Mistakes on the 10th and 15th holes cost her ground, but a spectacular chip‑in birdie on the par‑four 17th reignited her hopes of finally breaking through at a major. "Really looking forward to it," Hull said of the upcoming weekend.
"It’s going to be loads of fun. I feel like now my nerves have settled down.
Not too far back going into the weekend – better than I was last year!" Woad, who started her round in the afternoon, missed a chance to save par on the second hole but responded with three birdies over a four‑hole stretch beginning at the sixth. She stayed within two strokes of the lead until a bogey on the 14th and a bunker mishap on the final par‑four dropped her back.
"I think everyone knows any British player will want to win this event," Woad told Sky Sports. "You can tell the crowd are pulling for you, but you can also sense when they are nervous. I am trying to ignore it as much as possible but use the support as a positive. Patience and discipline are very good.
Par is a pretty good out here, and I think I've been hitting it well approach‑play‑wise." Thitikul quickly surrendered her overnight advantage after a bogey on the third hole, while Kuwaki, playing ahead of many groups, launched a three‑birdie surge starting at the fourth. The world No.
2, however, struggled on the greens throughout her round and finished with a 73. Kuwaki’s round was a roller‑coaster of four birdies and three bogeys, looking set for the outright lead until Ryu answered with three birdies over a four‑hole stretch beginning at the seventh and added another on the par‑four 15th. Ryu capped her impressive recovery with a 15‑foot birdie putt on the final hole, reinforcing her bid to become only the fifth player in history to capture three consecutive major titles. She was paired with Korda, the winner of the season's first two majors, who birdied all three par‑fives and posted a five‑shot improvement over her opening‑round 73.
Other notable players in the group include 2024 champion Lydia Ko, former major winner Celine 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 Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist set to announce her captain’s picks on Monday afternoon during a live Sky Sports broadcast.
The Swedish veteran, currently eight strokes back after a one‑under 70, will be looking to contribute to Europe’s quest for the Solheim Cup. The AIG Women’s Open continues to captivate fans, with live coverage scheduled throughout the weekend on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also stream the action without a contract, ensuring easy access to every pivotal moment. Golf enthusiasts are encouraged to explore the best rates and book tee times at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, keeping the spirit of the game alive beyond the championship itself.