AIG Women’s Open
-7 H Ryu (Kor); -6 S Kuwaki (Jpn); -5 Y Noh (US), A Thitikul (Tha); -3 S Joo (Kor); -2 L Woad (Eng), C Hull (Eng), C Wannasaen (Tha), L Li (US), J Yan (US), L Coughlin (US), P Martin (Esp), M Katsu (Jpn)
Selected others: -1 L Ko (NZ), N Korda (US), M Rhodes (Eng); +2 A Hewson (Eng), +6 G Hall (Eng), +7 M Yamashita (Jpn)
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu birdied the 18th to bounce back from a poor start and end the second round as leader of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The 25-year-old, aiming to become only the fifth woman in history to claim three majors in a calendar year, is one shot clear of Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki.
Earlier this month, Ryu claimed her second major in the space of two weeks at the Evian Championship, and her remarkable major form has continued at the Open.
Despite being three over for the day through five holes, she sank five birdies to shoot two under par and build on her opening-round score of 66.
“The last hole is so important as it is always good for tomorrow, I always want to make a good score on the last hole,” Ryu told BBC Sport.
“I’ve had two birdies on it, which is a good thing.
“I just stayed patient after that [the tough start] and I made some birdies to finish under par. I am so happy now.”
Kuwaki, who finished Thursday two shots behind leader Jeeno Thitikul, carded a one-under-par round to take advantage of Thitikul’s dropped shots.
Following a spectacular seven-under-par 64, Thailand’s Thitikul shot a two-over-par 73.
American Yealimi Noh joins world number two Thitikul on five under par after shooting 70.
England’s Lottie Woad is in a strong position to compete for a first major title despite a disappointing end to her second round.
The 22-year-old, who arrived as one of the favourites, ended the day on two under par.
Woad’s bogey-free opening round of 69 was followed up by a score of 71, which included three birdies on the front nine.
However, two dropped shots on the back nine – one on 17 – leaves her five shots back.
England’s Charley Hull went round in even par to remain on two under par, while world number one Nelly Korda shot 68 to recover from an opening-round two-over-par 73.
Three-time major champion Lydia Ko is also well placed to make a move from one under par, as is England’s Mimi Rhodes, who recovered from two early bogeys to sink three birdies.
Who are the best active players never to have won a major in the women’s game?
For many, Hull and Thitikul would be the first names that come to mind.
Hull has finished runner-up in five majors, with her most recent near-miss coming in June’s US Open.
Her solid opening round at the Open left her two under par and in a strong position to challenge for a maiden major title.
A tricky back nine on her second round ended in style, as a birdie from the bunker on the 17th was followed by a par at the last.
It was not a round that ever truly caught fire, despite featuring three birdies, but it keeps Hull firmly in contention.
“I am really looking forward to it [the weekend], it’s going to be loads of fun,” Hull said.
“I feel like now my nerves have settled down. My back was actually playing up for me a little bit, a little bit sore, that’s why I think I wasn’t getting through the ball how I wanted to.”
Former world number one Thitikul, who has 11 top-10 finishes in majors, said the stronger wind compared with Thursday played a part in her scoring.
She lipped out for birdie on the sixth and seventh before a lengthy par save on the 15th prevented back-to-back bogeys.
Her faultless opening round contained no dropped shots, but that run ended on the third hole of her second round.
Thitikul’s only birdie of the day came on 12, but there could have been more. She also lipped out with her final putt, which would have pulled another shot back.
Having spoken previously about struggling to cope with the noise of finally winning a major, Thitikul may be content for the spotlight to shift elsewhere after her stunning opening round.
Following an opening two-over-par 73, Korda needed to hit the ground running in her second round to get back into contention.
Korda’s victory at the US Women’s Open in June gave her a chance to complete the career Grand Slam, achieved by winning all five women’s major titles.
A run of four birdies in six holes began with a putt from about 20 feet on the fourth.
Another lengthy putt from the edge of the green on the 11th continued what was becoming a sensational round.
“That’s 36 [holes] in, 36 holes to go. You never know what’s going to happen. It’s golf. It’s links golf,” Korda said.
“I am just going to try to have the same attitude I had today going into the weekend.”
Having won the first two majors of the year, Korda is also in contention to become only the fifth woman in history to claim three majors in a calendar year.
That looked unlikely after Thursday, but her performance on Friday showed why she is a four-time major champion with the chance to achieve something special.
Her round still contained three bogeys and her last birdie came on 13, preventing a further climb up the leaderboard.
