Lottie Woad and Charley Hull found themselves 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 golfer since Inbee Park to capture three straight major titles, clawed back from a three‑over position after the first five holes and then delivered an impressive stretch of five birdies, finishing the round with a two‑under 69 at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes. This performance propelled her to seven under par, putting her a shot ahead of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, who had established an early clubhouse lead with a second‑round 70. Overnight leader Jeeno Thitikul trailed by another stroke, with American Solheim Cup hopeful Yealimi Noh close behind.
Ryu's comeback was a textbook example of resilience. After stumbling early, she steadied her game with precise iron play and confident putting, stringing together a run of birdies that swung momentum in her favor. Her final birdie, a 15‑foot putt on the 18th green, capped a round that not only lifted her to seven under but also kept alive the possibility of joining the exclusive club of players who have won three consecutive majors. Meanwhile, both Woad and Hull posted level‑par 71s, each carding two bogeys in the closing five holes.
Their scores left them at two under for the tournament, keeping them within striking distance as the weekend approaches. World No.
1 Nelly Korda also remained in contention, posting an improved 68 in the second round to move to one under and stay in the hunt for a third major of the season. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita, on the other hand, missed the cut after a disappointing 77 that included a quadruple‑bogey. Hull admitted she had only about three hours of sleep before teeing off for her second round.
The English veteran, a five‑time major runner‑up, made an early move by erasing a bogey on the third hole with birdies on the sixth and eighth. However, dropped shots at the 10th and 15th holes caused her to lose ground. A spectacular chip‑in birdie on the par‑four 17th revived her hopes of finally breaking through in 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 hovered 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 several groups ahead, launched a three‑birdie run starting at the fourth.
The world No. 2, however, struggled on the greens throughout her round, ultimately posting a 73.
Kuwaki mixed four birdies with three bogeys, looking poised for the outright lead until Ryu answered with three birdies in a four‑hole stretch from the seventh and another on the par‑four 15th. Ryu sealed her remarkable comeback with the 15‑foot birdie putt on the final green, reinforcing her bid to become only the fifth player in history to win three consecutive major championships.
Ryu was paired with Korda, who had already captured the first two majors of the year. Korda birdied all three par‑fives, contributing to a five‑stroke improvement from her opening‑round 73 and moving her into strong contention. 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.
Looking ahead, Team Europe will finalize its eight automatic qualifiers 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 hoping to contribute to Europe's efforts in the upcoming Solheim Cup.
The AIG Women's Open continues to draw intense interest, with live coverage slated for Saturday midday on Sky Sports Golf and streaming options available without a contract. Golf enthusiasts can also explore booking a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, ensuring the sport remains accessible to fans and players alike. As the tournament moves into its final stages, the narrative centers on whether Ryu can cement her place in history with a third straight major, if Hull or Woad can capitalize on their proximity to the lead, and how Korda will respond to the challenge posed by the rising Korean star. The drama, the shifting leaderboard, and the palpable excitement among the spectators all underscore the prestige of the AIG Women's Open and its status as a pinnacle event in women's golf.