Yealimi Noh took advantage of a misstep by South Korean star Haeran Ryu to capture the third-round lead at the AIG Women’s Open, with England’s Lottie Woad and Charley Hull still very much in the hunt for the championship. Ryu entered the day holding a comfortable two‑stroke advantage after a flawless front nine that saw her pull four shots clear of the field at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes. Her ambition was to secure a third consecutive major title, a feat that would place her among the modern greats. However, an erratic stretch of eight holes in the middle of her round saw her card five bogeys, ultimately posting a three‑over 74 and surrendering the lead.
Noh, who began the tournament two shots behind the leader, stumbled early herself, making two bogeys within her first five holes and slipping further down the leaderboard. The turning point arrived around the turn, where she unleashed a flurry of birdies that propelled her to a two‑under 69. That brilliant surge gave her a three‑shot cushion over the nearest competitors and positioned her at seven under par heading into the final day, where she will chase her first major victory. Trailing Ryu by a single stroke are Jeeno Thitkul, Lucy Li and Shiho Kuwaki, all of whom are now tied for second place.
The Japanese duo of Thitkul and Kuwaki have been consistent throughout the tournament, and they will look to capitalize on any further slips from Ryu. English hopefuls Lottie Woad and Charley Hull remain within striking distance. Woad sits four shots back, while Hull is five shots behind the leader. Both women have demonstrated resilience and skill over the past three rounds, and they will be eager to mount a late‑round charge on Sunday.
Meanwhile, world No. 1 Nelly Korda, after a disastrous double‑bogey on the final hole of the previous round, finds herself eight shots off the lead at one over par. Ryu’s early dominance on the final day was evident as she opened with a birdie on the third hole, followed by another on the fourth, extending her lead to four strokes after her playing partner made a bogey.
Both competitors then dropped a bogey on the subsequent par‑three, but Ryu quickly regained her buffer by taking advantage of a long par‑five, posting another birdie. The momentum shifted dramatically on the seventh hole, a demanding par‑five where Ryu’s drive veered far off the fairway into thick rough. Facing an unplayable lie, she was forced to take a penalty drop, a mistake that unraveled her round.
After salvaging a bogey, she added another on the eighth, while Kuwaki responded with birdies on the seventh and ninth to close to just one stroke behind Ryu at the turn. The gap vanished on the tenth hole when Ryu, attempting to escape a bunker, missed the green twice and made a bogey.
At the same time, Noh, playing ahead, recorded three consecutive birdies from the ninth through the eleventh, pulling herself into a three‑way tie for the lead. Ryu’s difficulties persisted, with bogeys on the twelfth and fourteenth holes.
Kuwaki, unable to save par on the fifteenth, allowed Noh to stretch her advantage with a five‑foot birdie on the sixteenth, creating a two‑shot cushion. Kuwaki’s subsequent bogey on the eighteenth sealed her fate, leaving Noh with a comfortable lead and the chance to become the first American to win the AIG Women’s Open as her maiden major since Mo Martin’s triumph in 2014.
Reflecting on her performance, Noh told Sky Sports, “It was a rocky start, but my putting was solid and my shots were on point. I settled into a better rhythm and focused on my tempo on the back nine.
I’m thrilled to be in this position and ready to go again.” Her calm demeanor and steady play have been key factors in her rise up the leaderboard. German contender Esther Henseleit displayed early promise, carding five birdies in her first ten holes before a bogey on the fifteenth.
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. A strong finish could also see her climb the order and secure a higher finish in the overall tournament. Woad, currently world No.
5, has the opportunity to leapfrog Tamburlini with a solo third‑place finish or better. She mixed three birdies with two bogeys in the third round, positioning herself well for a potential breakthrough. “It’s a good spot to be in,” Woad said to Sky Sports. “I should be a few shots back, but I’ll stick to my game plan and see what happens.
I felt better on the greens today and scrambled effectively around the course.” Hull’s round was a roller‑coaster. After three bogeys in her opening six holes, she rallied with back‑to‑back birdies on the seventh and eighth, only to drop another shot on the tenth. The two‑time runner‑up in the AIG Women’s Open over the past three years showed her fighting spirit by posting consecutive birdies from the fifteenth through the seventeenth, finishing with a level‑par 71.
Hull explained, “I’m proud of how I played the first six holes; I felt like a 10‑handicapper, which is not my usual level. I missed three putts from five feet that should have been made, which cost me three over par. After that bounce‑back, I was happy with my finish. Watching the leaderboard is tricky out on the course, so I try to get a quick glance whenever I can.” As the final round approaches, the leaderboard remains tightly packed.
Noh leads at seven under, Ryu, Thitkul, Li and Kuwaki sit tied at six under, while Woad, Hull and Henseleit hover within striking distance. The pressure will be immense, especially for Noh, who must fend off a field of experienced major contenders. Fans can catch the decisive Sunday showdown live from midday on Sky Sports Golf, with streaming options available without a contract. The AIG Women’s Open promises an exciting climax as the world’s top women golfers vie for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.