Charley Hull is savoring a chance to mount a late surge toward a major title after delivering a dramatic third‑round rally at the AIG Women’s Open. Ranked seventh in the world, the English golfer found herself just five strokes off the leader at Royal Lytham & St Annes, only to slip ten strokes back after three bogeys in the first six holes of her Saturday afternoon round.
Meanwhile, overnight leader Haeran Ryu surged ahead, widening the gap with a blistering start. Undeterred, Hull answered with a pair of birdies on holes seven and eight, briefly reviving her momentum.
A bogey on the tenth halted her progress, but the tide began to turn when Ryu, who was playing several groups behind, stumbled, carding five bogeys over an eight‑hole stretch. Hull seized the opportunity, stringing together a series of pars and birdies from the 15th onward, and salvaging a pars on the 17th.
She capped the round with a steady par on the final hole, finishing with an even‑par 71 that left her five strokes behind Yealimi Noh heading into the final day. "I’m pretty proud – the first six holes felt like I was playing as a 10‑handicapper," Hull told Sky Sports. "I missed three putts that I should have holed from five feet, which would have kept me at even par instead of three over. I managed to bounce back, hit a great shot into the last hole, and was happy with how I finished." Hull admitted that keeping track of the leaderboard was challenging because of the sparse crowd on the course, but she tried to catch a glimpse whenever possible.
"I like to have a sneaky look," she added. Hull’s résumé includes five runner‑up finishes in major championships, two of which came at this very venue over the past three years, plus a second‑place finish at the U.S. Women’s Open in June. At 30, she hopes to translate those near‑misses into a long‑awaited triumph.
"I just want to go out there and enjoy it tomorrow, not put too much pressure on myself," she said. "Go out there, have fun and trust my swing." A victory would make Hull the first British woman to capture a major since Georgia Hall’s win at Royal Lytham in 2018, while Catriona Matthew also claimed a major there in 2009. Fellow competitor Lottie Woad is also in contention, having posted solid top‑10 finishes in her previous AIG Women’s Open outings.
After a disappointing second‑round finish, Woad rebounded with a one‑under 70, mixing three birdies and two bogeys to sit three strokes under par heading into the final day. "It’s a good position to be in," Woad told Sky Sports.
"I should be a few back by the end of today. I’ll stick to my game plan and see what happens. The course definitely played tougher today.
The wind was probably the strongest it’s been. The back nine was a grind, but I felt a bit better on the greens and scrambled well." Woad emphasized the importance of capitalising on the front nine, which is typically downwind. "I went out even‑par, which wasn’t the best start, but I knew there would be chances on the back nine. A lot of it is par golf." Both Hull and Woad are now eyeing the final round, where consistency, strategic shot‑making and mental resilience will be paramount.
The Royal Lytham & St Annes layout, renowned for its deep bunkers and unpredictable coastal breezes, demands precise ball‑striking and a keen sense of distance control. Players who can navigate the tricky rough and seize scoring opportunities on the more forgiving holes will likely emerge victorious.
Fans can watch the climax of the tournament live on Sunday from midday on Sky Sports Golf, with streaming options available for those without a traditional contract. The final round promises high drama as the leaderboard tightens and the pursuit of a historic British major win intensifies.
In summary, Charley Hull’s resilient third‑round performance has positioned her within striking distance of the lead, while Lottie Woad remains a credible challenger. Both athletes have demonstrated the skill and determination needed to succeed on a demanding course, and the upcoming final round will determine who can convert their recent form into a major championship victory.