Yealimi Noh took full advantage of Haeran Ryu's missteps to assume the third-round lead at the AIG Women’s Open, with England’s Lottie Woad and Charley Hull still in the hunt for the championship. Ryu entered the day holding a two‑stroke advantage and was chasing a third straight major triumph. She had opened the round with a clean four‑stroke cushion at Royal Lytham & St Annes, but an erratic eight‑hole stretch in the middle of her round produced five bogeys and left her with a three‑over 74, effectively surrendering the lead. Noh began the weekend two shots behind the leader.
After a shaky start that saw her drop two bogeys in the first five holes, she found her rhythm around the turn, stringing together a series of birdies that propelled her to a two‑under 69. That score gave her a three‑shot edge over the nearest competitors heading into the final day. The American now sits at seven under par, eyeing her first major title, while Ryu has fallen into a tie for second place with Jeeno Thitkul, Lucy Li and Shiho Kuwaki. Woad, four strokes back, and Hull, five strokes back, are both positioned to launch a late‑day charge.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who had a double‑bogey on the final hole, now trails by eight shots at one over par. Ryu started the day one stroke ahead of Kuwaki but quickly re‑established control with back‑to‑back birdies beginning on the third hole, extending her lead to four when her playing partner made a bogey. Both players bogeyed the subsequent par‑three, after which Ryu reclaimed her four‑shot buffer by capitalising on the next par‑five.
However, her momentum unraveled on the seventh hole when a mis‑hit drive landed in the rough, forcing her to declare the ball unplayable. She managed to salvage a bogey but then dropped another stroke on the following hole, while Kuwaki responded with birdies at the seventh and ninth to close to within one shot of Ryu at the turn. The early advantage evaporated when Ryu took two sand‑shot attempts and bogeyed the par‑four 10th. Meanwhile, Noh, playing ahead of the leaders, recorded three consecutive birdies from the ninth onward, creating a three‑way tie at the top of the leaderboard.
Ryu’s troubles continued as she bogeyed the 12th and 14th holes, and Kuwaki failed to save par on the 15th, allowing Noh to stretch her lead with a five‑foot birdie on the 16th. Kuwaki’s subsequent bogey on the penultimate hole cemented Noh’s two‑shot cushion.
Noh’s post‑round comments to Sky Sports highlighted her composure: “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.” If she can maintain this level, she could become the first American to claim the AIG Women’s Open as her maiden major since Mo Martin’s victory in 2014.
German contender Esther Henseleit produced five birdies in her first ten holes before a bogey on the 15th. Already qualified for the Solheim Cup via her world ranking, Henseleit now needs a solo second‑place finish or better to overtake Chiara Tamburlini on the Ladies European Tour points list. Woad also has a chance to leapfrog Tamburlini with a solo third‑place finish; the world No.
5 mixed three birdies with two bogeys and remains well‑placed to challenge for her first major. Woad told 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 steady play and ability to recover from trouble keep her within striking distance of the lead. Hull’s round was a roller‑coaster.
After falling ten shots behind due to three bogeys in her opening six holes, she rallied with back‑to‑back birdies before losing another stroke on the 10th. The fan‑favorite, a two‑time runner‑up at the AIG Women’s Open over the past three years, finished strongly with consecutive birdies from the 15th onward, posting a level‑par 71. Hull reflected, “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 aren’t 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 demonstrates why she remains a threat despite the setbacks. As the final round approaches on Sunday, the leaderboard is tightly packed. Noh leads at seven under, with Ryu, Thitkul, Li and Kuwaki tied for second at four under.
Woad sits four strokes back, Hull five back, and Korda eight strokes behind. The tournament promises a dramatic finish, with the potential for a first‑time major winner to emerge. Fans can watch the decisive round live from midday on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the action through various platforms without a contract.
The AIG Women’s Open continues to deliver high‑stakes drama, showcasing the depth of talent on the women’s tour and setting the stage for a memorable conclusion to the championship.