Haeran Ryu produced a round of 69 (-2) on day two of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open to hold a one-stroke lead at the midway mark at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The Korean star fired a 66 (-5) on day one in England and had a rocky start on the second day of action with a bogey on three and a double bogey on five.
However, the two-time Major champion recovered well rolling in birdies on holes seven, nine and 10.
Ryu, who has won the last two Major championships in 2026, added further birdies on 15 and 18 to seal her place at the summit of the leaderboard on seven-under-par.
“I’m just trying to have fun on the course because this course is stressful because there are a lot of bunkers and the greens are tough and then it’s windy too. I’m just trying to have fun on the golf course with my caddie,” said Ryu.
“I have played golf for almost 15 years, so I think I learned a lot for [being in] the good position. That’s why these days I’m pretty calm and happy on the golf course. I don’t want to focus on other players; I just keep thinking about my golf and the golf course.
“There are a lot of great players in here, so that’s why I just want to think about my golf because this is a major, nobody knows what comes up. Tomorrow I just want to be happy with my play and think about my swing.”
Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki is in second place after a round of 70 (-1) which included four birdies and three bogeys.
“I got off to a slow start with a bogey, but I bounced back with three straight birdies after that. From there, I was able to settle in and play with the same mindset I had yesterday,” said Kuwaki.
“As the round went on, the wind made it difficult to control my pace on the greens. Especially on the back nine, I wasn’t able to convert a few putts that I felt I should have made. I’ll work on the areas that need to be cleaned up and try to play with the same rhythm and tempo tomorrow.”
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and American Yealimi Noh share third place on five-under after rounds of 73 and 70, respectively.
Five-time LET winner Thitikul led overnight but struggled on day two with just one birdie and three bogeys on her scorecard.
“It definitely was not as good as yesterday. I was doing a lot of things not bad, but not really holing the putt as yesterday, but I still holed important putts. I’m not hitting it as close to the pin as yesterday,” said Thitikul.
“I am definitely going to get frustrated sometimes. I got really frustrated when I three-putted on 14 and then I end up in the bunker on 15. I feel like if you can let it go as fast as possible, it should be more advantage for the next shot because it’s just not ending shots in your life or in the round.
“I will try to be really patient. I know some of the situations that you have to think every shot. You have to really be aware of everything on the shots. If you have 58 degrees, you still have to think where you want to land it and where you want your ball to end up.”
Noh began her day well with a birdie on the second before a double bogey on the fourth; however, she bounced back with back-to-back birdies on five and six.
The American made another birdie on the 11th hole and dropped a shot on the 15th to be in T3 heading into the weekend.
“It was a really solid round. I hit my driver well and hit a lot of greens. I made some long putts, so that was always nice. I struggled a little bit in the bunkers, but it’s just something to work on later,” said Noh.
“My ball striking was good, I was just staying in the fairways and avoiding those bunkers and then my putting was really solid as well. I’m just really excited and very grateful and happy to be in this position again. I’m focusing on enjoying it out there, not so much my score. If I keep playing like this I’ll enjoy it.”
Korea’s Soo Bin Joo is in outright fifth place on three-under-par after a round of 69 (-2) at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Eight players are one shot further back in a tie for sixth place including home favourites Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, as well as Spanish amateur Paula Martin Sampedro.
Hull produced a round of even par on day two but one of her highlights was a hole-out from the bunker on 17.
“I had a couple of good bunker shots today, but that one I just had to splash it out and get it rolling on the green. It was nice to hole it. The wind was in quite a different direction today, so it made it a bit trickier,” said Hull.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be loads of fun. I feel like now my nerves have settled down. My back was actually playing up for me a little bit today, I was a little bit sore, that’s why I think I wasn’t getting through the ball how I wanted to.”
The cut fell at +4 with 68 players making it through to the weekend. Round three will begin at 8.50 am (local time) with the leaders going out at 2.40 pm.
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