Yealimi Noh leads by three at AIG Women's Open as Ryu Hae-ran stumbles; Lottie Woad and Charley Hull in contention

Noh's steady climb

Yealimi Noh, the world No 69 from the United States, shot a two-under 69 on a blustery Saturday at Royal Lytham & St Annes to reach seven under par and seize a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the AIG Women's Open. Her round was one of only nine under-par scores on a day when the wind off the Lancashire coast punished mistakes. Noh began shakily, three over through six holes, but steadied herself with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th, and added another at the 16th. An inward nine of 33 lifted her clear of a chasing pack that includes four of the world's top 10 players. Noh, who has not posted a top-10 finish since October 2025, is chasing her first major championship victory.

It was a little bit of a rocky start. But my putting was solid after that and my shots too. I just settled into a better routine and focused on my tempo on the back nine. It's just another round of golf out there tomorrow and I'm going to enjoy it.

Ryu's dramatic collapse

Overnight leader Ryu Hae-ran, aiming to become the first player to win three consecutive majors in the modern era, built a four-shot advantage early in the round, reaching nine under after six holes. But a wild drive on the 7th hole, which finished near the railway line between Blackpool South and Preston, forced a penalty drop and a bogey. That opened the floodgates: Ryu bogeyed the 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th, repeatedly finding Lytham's deep bunkers. She signed for a three-over 74 and tumbled into a five-way tie for second at four under. The group includes Germany's Esther Henseleit, who fired a four-under 67, the low round of the day; Thailand's world No 2 Jeeno Thitikul (72); American Lucy Li (69); and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki (73). Ryu, winner of the KPMG Women's PGA in June and the Amundi Evian Championship in July, still has 18 holes to repair the damage.

English hopes alive

Lottie Woad, the 22-year-old from Farnham, carded a one-under 70 that included birdies at the 2nd and 16th holes. She sits alone in seventh at three under, four shots off the lead. Woad described the back nine as "a grind" in the strongest wind of the week and said she felt better on the greens. Charley Hull, the 30-year-old from Kettering, endured a nightmare start with three bogeys in her first six holes, missing three putts from inside five feet. But she rallied with back-to-back birdies at the 7th and 8th, and after a bogey at the 10th, made consecutive birdies at the 15th and 16th to salvage a level-par 71. At two under, she is tied for eighth, five shots behind Noh.

The first six holes I played like a 10 handicapper and I missed three putts I should have holed from inside five feet. Then I did have a bit of a bounce-back. I was pretty happy with the way I finished.

Korda's costly finish

World number one Nelly Korda birdied the 17th hole to move to one under par and briefly appeared poised to enter the conversation. But a wayward tee shot on the 18th led to a double-bogey six, dropping her to one over par and eight shots off the lead. The American, who needs a Women's Open title to complete a career grand slam, now faces a crowded leaderboard with too many players between her and the top. Three-time major winner Lydia Ko of New Zealand sits at one under after a back-nine rally, while France's Celine Boutier and England's Mimi Rhodes are at two over.

Final round outlook

With 18 holes remaining, Noh holds a three-shot cushion but must contend with a group of five players that includes major winners and the world No 2. Thitikul, who parred every hole on the back nine Saturday, remains a threat, while Henseleit's 67 demonstrated what is possible in the wind. The forecast for Sunday at Lytham calls for continued breezy conditions, which could again test the field. Noh's maiden major is within reach, but the final round on a links course rarely follows a script.