Lottie Woad and Charley Hull have both positioned themselves just five strokes behind the leader after the halfway point of the AIG Women’s Open, while a surging Haeran Ryu now tops the leaderboard with a commanding performance. Ryu, who is chasing a historic three‑major‑in‑a‑row achievement that has only been accomplished by Inbee Park, managed a remarkable turnaround after a shaky start that left her three shots over par after the first five holes. She rattled off a string of five birdies, carding a two‑under 69 at the storied Royal Lytham & St Annes course. That burst of scoring lifted her to seven under for the tournament, a single stroke ahead of Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki, who had set an early clubhouse benchmark with a second‑round 70.
The previous day’s leader, Jeeno Thitikul, found herself a shot behind Kuwaki, while American Solheim Cup hopeful Yealimi Noh also trailed by a single stroke. Both Woad and Hull were poised to challenge the outright lead, but each concluded the round with a level‑par 71, each carding two bogeys in the final five holes.
Hull, after a mixed performance that included a series of birdies offset by costly errors, also entered the weekend at two under par overall. World number one Nelly Korda remains in the mix as a potential challenger to Ryu’s bid for a third major this season. Korda posted an improved 68 in the second round, moving to one under for the tournament.
Meanwhile, defending champion Miyu Yamashita struggled, posting a 77 that included a quadruple‑bogey and resulted in her missing the cut. Hull disclosed that she had only managed about three hours of sleep before teeing off for the second round. The English veteran, who has finished as a runner‑up in major championships five times, made an early move by erasing a bogey on the third hole with birdies on the sixth and eighth. However, missed opportunities on the 10th and 15th holes caused her to slip back, before a spectacular chip‑in birdie on the par‑four 17th reignited hopes of finally breaking through at a major.
When asked about her weekend outlook, Hull said, "I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I feel like my nerves have settled now. I’m not too far back heading into the weekend – better than last year!" Woad, who started her round in the afternoon, missed a chance to save par on the second hole but then produced three birdies over a four‑hole stretch beginning at the sixth.
For a while she was within two strokes of the lead, but a bogey on the 14th and a costly bunker mishap on the final par‑four pushed her back. "Everyone knows a British player will want to win this tournament," Woad told Sky Sports.
"You can feel the crowd behind you, but you can also sense the tension. I try to ignore it and use that energy positively. Patience and discipline are key – a par is a solid score here, and I think my approach play has been solid." Thitikul quickly squandered her overnight advantage with a bogey on the third, while Kuwaki, playing several groups ahead, went on a three‑birdie run starting at the fourth. The world number two, however, struggled on the greens and posted a 73 for the round.
Kuwaki’s round was a roller‑coaster of four birdies and three bogeys. She seemed set to claim the outright lead until Ryu answered with three birdies over a four‑hole stretch beginning at the seventh, then added another on the par‑four 15th. Ryu capped her comeback with a 15‑foot birdie putt on the final hole, reinforcing her pursuit of a place in the exclusive club of players who have won three consecutive majors. Ryu was paired with Korda, the winner of the first two majors of the season, who birdied all three par‑fives and improved her total by five strokes from an opening‑round 73, moving to one under overall.
Also in the mix on the leaderboard are 2024 champion Lydia Ko, former major winner Céline Boutier, and England’s Mimi Rhodes, each sitting at one under. Meanwhile, Swiss player Chiara Tamburlini faces a tense wait regarding her Solheim Cup qualification after missing the cut. Team Europe’s eight automatic qualifiers for the upcoming Solheim Cup will be confirmed on Sunday evening, with Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist slated to announce her captain’s picks on Monday afternoon live on Sky Sports.
The Swedish contingent, after a one‑under 70, finds itself eight strokes behind the leaders as the competition intensifies. The battle for the AIG Women’s Open title remains wide open, with the weekend promising dramatic swings, clutch performances, and perhaps a historic three‑peat for Ryu. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf, with continuous coverage scheduled from midday Saturday onward. The tournament also offers a chance for viewers to explore booking a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, highlighting the broader golf community surrounding this premier event.