Haeran ahead at halfway

Chasing an almost incomprehensible third successive major title, Haeran Ryu leads the AIG Women’s Open by one at the halfway stage.

The Korean wobbled early in her second round, having carded one bogey and one double-bogey by the time she reached the 6th tee.

But they were the last shots she dropped in a courageous display.

Birdies on 7, 9, 10, 15 and 18 allowed Haeran to sign for a 69 as she moved to the top of the leaderboard, narrowly ahead of Shiho Kuwaki who had led for most of Friday.

Haeran is just 36 holes away from becoming the first female golfer since Inbee Park in 2013 – and just the fourth ever – to win three majors in the same year.

She broke her major duck at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June before also triumphing in the Amundi Evian Championship, where she recorded a third-round 60, the lowest 18-hole tally in major history.

The 25-year-old arrived at Royal Lytham & St Annes eager to keep this improbable run going, birdieing four of her first seven holes in round one. Haeran only had one blemish on her scorecard on Thursday and picked up two more shots in the final three holes to stay within two of the record-breaking Jeeno Thitikul.

On Friday, a dropped shot on the 3rd – the second most-difficult hole so far this week – halted this major momentum, but with Jeeno failing to hit the same dizzy heights as 24 hours earlier, Haeran was still very much in touch.

A double-bogey at 5 – which included having to tap her ball a few inches sidewards from an impossible spot in a greenside bunker – threatened to derail the round.

Haeran spoke after round one of no longer playing with any pressure, having collected the majors she had long coveted. And this freedom helped her to produce a powerful finish to her second round, with five birdies later in the day confirming a two-under 69.

“I don't want to focus on other players,” reiterated Haeran. “I just keep thinking about my golf and the golf course.

“[There are] a lot of great players here. That's why I just want to think about my golf. Because this is a major; nobody knows what comes up.

“So I just want [to be] happy with my play [tomorrow] and just think about my swing.”

Shiho Kuwaki is the number one player on the LPGA of Japan Tour, having picked up two victories in her homeland in 2026.

Her quality has been on full display on the luscious links of Lytham. A snappy dresser, Shiho not only catches the eye with her attire but also with her craft.

The 23-year-old has taken a liking to Royal Lytham & St Annes, landing 10 birdies across her opening 36 holes.

Signing for a one-under 70, Shiho is just one stroke shy of top spot.

It’s always difficult to follow a record low round.

This was the scenario faced by Jeeno Thitikul after her marvellous opening-day 64.

The world number two couldn’t find her rhythm on Friday and dropped her first shot of the Championship at the 3rd. Seven straight pars steadied the ship somewhat before another bogey, at 11.

Jeeno got that shot back immediately on the par-3 12th, but one more bogey, on 14, means she now sits on five-under.

Also on that score is Yealimi Noh who, like Ryu, was forced to recover from a double-bogey, after she visited both greenside bunkers at the 4th. However, this blemish was quickly forgotten as she regained those dropped shots over the next two holes.

A level-par back nine gave her a score of 70 for the day.

A host of dangerous threats sit just below the leaders.

Soo Bin Joo caught the eye on day two with three birdies in a four-hole stretch and she is on her own in fifth on three-under.

Home favourite Charley Hull compiled a steady round of 71 which, added to her 69 from yesterday, has settled her into a tie for sixth alongside seven others including Lauren Coughlin, Lottie Woad, Paula Martin Sampedro and Minami Katsu, who eagled the par-5 6th for the second day in a row.

Celine Boutier, Lydia Ko and world number one Nelly Korda are among the six players on one-under, the latter bouncing back from an opening-day 73 with an impressive 68 on Friday.

Defending Champion Miyu Yamashita missed the cut, which fell at +4, after posting a second-round 77. Her Friday started to unravel with a triple-bogey seven at the 3rd.

Miyu birdied the next but was unable to get anything going and will not make the weekend.

Minjee Lee, Ruoning Yin, Shuri Sakuma, and Hinako Shibuno and Lilia Vu – Champions in 2019 and 2023 respectively – are among the bigger names who also missed the cut.