Lottie Woad and Charley Hull found themselves just five strokes shy of the midway lead at the AIG Women's Open, while the surging Haeran Ryu surged ahead of the field, establishing a new benchmark on the leaderboard. Ryu, who is eyeing a historic achievement that would make her the first golfer since Inbee Park to capture three straight major championships, overcame a shaky start that saw her three over par after the first five holes. She responded with a remarkable stretch of five birdies, finishing the round with a two-under 69 at the storied Royal Lytham & St Annes course.
This performance propelled her to seven under par, pulling ahead of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, who had posted the early clubhouse lead with a solid second‑round 70. Overnight leader Jeeno Thitikul trailed by a single shot, as did American Solheim Cup hopeful Yealimi Noh. Woad appeared poised to challenge for the outright lead but ultimately carded a level‑par 71, hampered by two late‑round bogeys that slipped away in her final five holes. Hull mirrored that score, posting another mixed round that left her two under par heading into the weekend.
Both players remain within striking distance of the top spot and will look to capitalize on their momentum. World No. 1 Nelly Korda stayed firmly in the mix, improving her position with a second‑round 68 that lifted her to one under par. Korda is determined to test Ryu for a third major title of the season.
Meanwhile, defending champion Miyu Yamashita was unable to make the cut after a disappointing 77 that included a quadruple‑bogey, ending her campaign early. Hull candidly admitted that she had only managed about three hours of sleep before tackling her second round.
The English veteran, who has finished runner‑up in five majors, made an early surge by offsetting a bogey on the third hole with birdies on the sixth and eighth. However, mis‑hits at the 10th and 15th holes caused her to lose ground.
A spectacular chip‑in birdie on the par‑four 17th reignited her hopes of finally breaking through and securing a major victory. Woad, who started her round in the afternoon, missed a chance to save par on the second hole but then rattled off 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. "Anyone can see that a British player will want to win this tournament," Woad told Sky Sports. "You can feel the crowd behind you, but you also sense their nerves. I try to block that out and use the support positively.
Patience and discipline are crucial. Par is a solid target here, and I've been hitting my approach shots well." Thitikul quickly relinquished her overnight advantage after a bogey on the third hole, while Kuwaki, playing ahead of several groups, launched a three‑birdie run starting at the fourth. The world No. 2, however, struggled on the greens throughout her second‑round 73.
Kuwaki's round featured a blend of four birdies and three bogeys, and she seemed set to take the outright lead until Ryu responded with three birdies over a four‑hole stretch from the seventh, adding another on the par‑four 15th. Ryu capped her comeback with a 15‑foot birdie putt on the final hole, reinforcing her bid to become only the fifth player in history to win three consecutive major titles. She was paired with Korda, who had already secured the first two majors of the year. Korda birdied all three par‑fives, contributing to a five‑stroke improvement from her opening‑round 73.
Also in contention were 2024 champion Lydia Ko, former major winner Celine Boutier, and England's Mimi Rhodes, all sitting at one under par. Meanwhile, Chiara Tamburlini faced an anxious wait regarding her Solheim Cup qualification after missing the cut. Team Europe will finalize its eight automatic qualifiers on Sunday evening, with Anna Nordqvist expected to announce her captain's picks on Monday afternoon during a live Sky Sports broadcast. The Swedish veteran, currently eight strokes back, posted a one‑under 70 and will be looking to improve her standing as the competition progresses.
The AIG Women's Open continues to captivate fans, with live coverage on Sky Sports throughout the weekend. Viewers can tune in Saturday from midday for continued action, and those without a contract can still stream the event via Sky Sports Golf.
For golfers interested in playing the courses featured in the tournament, there are competitive rates available at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Interested parties can search by course, city, or postal code to find the best deals. As the tournament moves into its final stages, the narrative centers on whether Ryu can cement her place in the record books, if Korda can claim a third major this season, and whether Hull or Woad can finally break through and claim the coveted title. The drama, the shifting leaderboard, and the palpable tension among the players promise an unforgettable conclusion to this year’s AIG Women’s Open.