Updated

Updated · BBC.com · Jul 31

Haeran Ryu Takes 1-Shot AIG Women's Open Lead at 7-Under, Chasing Third 2026 Major

Updated

Updated · BBC.com · Jul 31

Haeran Ryu Takes 1-Shot AIG Women's Open Lead at 7-Under, Chasing Third 2026 Major

Q: Can Haeran Ryu conquer Lytham's punishing bunkers to achieve a historic third major, or will her shaky start haunt the weekend?

Haeran Ryu has a real chance to make history, and her recovery on Friday suggests the shaky start is more warning sign than fatal flaw. At Royal Lytham & St Annes, the central test is control. The course’s 174 pot bunkers and heavy rough punish any loose driving or imprecise approach play, and Ryu herself has said her focus is simply to keep avoiding the bunkers. That matters because links majors are often decided less by brilliance than by damage limitation. What works in Ryu’s favor is the way she responded. She was three over through five holes in round two, yet still posted 70 and finished at seven under with a closing birdie. That shows patience, composure and a game sturdy enough to recover when things drift. It also fits her current form: she has already won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship, and she opened this week with a 66 while outplaying a group that included Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko. The risk is obvious. A start like Friday’s could be more costly over the weekend if the wind rises or if she finds Lytham’s bunkers in clusters. And the field is too strong for mistakes to pile up. Shiho Kuwaki is only one back, while Jeeno Thitikul, Yealimi Noh, Korda and Ko are close enough to apply pressure. So the weekend likely hinges on whether Ryu can turn her current calm into cleaner opening stretches. If she does, she is the player to beat. If the early wobble returns, Lytham is exactly the kind of course that can punish it severely.

Q: Will Charley Hull's lingering back soreness shatter her dreams of capturing a thrilling home major victory on this demanding English links course?

No. Hull’s back soreness is a concern, but there is no strong evidence yet that it will derail her chances. She remains very much in contention at two under par after 36 holes, five shots behind Haeran Ryu, and she said herself that she had settled her nerves and was looking forward to the weekend despite the soreness. That matters, because her comments suggest the issue is being managed rather than worsening dramatically. The bigger question may be the course as much as her body. Hull has acknowledged that Royal Lytham & St Annes does not naturally suit her eye, describing it as tight and tricky, especially with its bunkers and strategic demands. Links golf here rewards precision and patience, and any physical limitation can be exposed over the final two rounds if conditions toughen. Still, Hull has reason for optimism. She has finished runner-up in five majors, including two of the last three Women’s Opens, and recently pushed Nelly Korda to within one shot at the U.S. Women’s Open. Her camp has also sounded encouraged by her driving in practice, and she has already shown she can stay in the hunt on home soil. So the soreness is a genuine variable, not a knockout blow. If it flares up, it could hurt her on a demanding layout that already tests her preferred visual style. But based on what is known midway through the championship, Hull’s hopes of a home major win are still alive and credible.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 31

A birdie on 18 lifted Haeran Ryu to 7-under and a one-shot lead after the second round at Royal Lytham & St Annes, despite being 3-over through five holes.
The 25-year-old South Korean recovered with five birdies in a 2-under round, extending the major form that already brought her two titles this month.
Shiho Kuwaki sits second at 6-under after a 1-under day, while first-round leader Jeeno Thitikul slipped to 5-under with a 73 and shares third with Yealimi Noh.
Lottie Woad and Charley Hull are 2-under and five shots back, while world No. 1 Nelly Korda surged from an opening 73 to a 68 that moved her to 1-under.
Ryu is trying to become only the fifth woman to win three majors in a calendar year, with 36 holes left and several established contenders still within range.