Yealimi Noh takes three-shot lead into final round of AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham

Noh's surge

Yealimi Noh recovered from a slow start to shoot a 2-under 69 and take a three-shot lead into the final round of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The 25-year-old American, ranked 69th in the world, was 3-over through six holes but played the back nine in 33 strokes, making five birdies overall. Her 54-hole total of 7-under par left her clear of a crowded chasing pack. Noh, whose only professional win came at the 2025 Founders Cup, said she was visualizing success.

“I want to imagine it so I can manifest it. Sometimes it's hard to be positive, especially with golf. It can be really tough. But manifestation is important.”

Noh prepared for the 166 bunkers at Lytham by playing Sahalee Country Club with her fiancé, former college tennis player Jackson Suh, who reminded her that golf could be fun. She has not recorded a top-10 finish since last October and missed cuts at the last two majors.

Ryu's collapse

Overnight leader Haeran Ryu, seeking a third consecutive major title after wins at the KPMG Women's PGA and Evian Championship, briefly stretched her advantage to five shots at 9-under early in the round. Then came a dramatic reversal. A wayward drive on the 7th led to a bogey, and she dropped further shots at the 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th, finding a series of bunkers. Ryu signed for a 3-over 74 and fell into a tie for second at 4-under. The South Korean's stumble evoked memories of Adam Scott's collapse at Lytham in 2012, though she still has 18 holes to recover.

The chasing pack

Five players are tied for second at 4-under: Japan's Shiho Kuwaki (73), Thailand's world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul (72), American Lucy Li (69), Germany's Esther Henseleit (67) and Ryu. Henseleit's 4-under 67 was the low round of the day. Thitikul parred every hole on the back nine to stay in touch. Li's 69 was one of only nine sub-par rounds on a windy day. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, chasing a career grand slam, birdied the 17th to reach 1-under but double-bogeyed the last after a wayward tee shot, ending at even par and eight shots back.

Y. Noh-7

E. Henseleit-4

L. Li-4

J. Thitikul-4

H. Ryu-4

S. Kuwaki-4

L. Woad-3

C. Hull-2

L. Ko-1

N. Korda1

Y. Noh

-7 score to par

E. Henseleit

-4 score to par

L. Li

-4 score to par

J. Thitikul

-4 score to par

H. Ryu

-4 score to par

S. Kuwaki

-4 score to par

L. Woad

-3 score to par

C. Hull

-2 score to par

L. Ko

-1 score to par

N. Korda

1 score to par

Data from the article text

Home hopes

England's Lottie Woad, a 22-year-old amateur, carded a 1-under 70 to sit alone in seventh at 3-under, four off the lead.

“The wind was probably the strongest it's been so far, and that back nine was definitely a grind.”

Charley Hull recovered from three early bogeys to shoot 71 and is tied for eighth at 2-under. Hull, a five-time major runner-up, told Sky Sports she played the first six holes like a 10 handicapper and missed three putts from inside five feet, but was happy with her finish. New Zealand's Lydia Ko, a three-time major winner, is at 1-under after a back-nine rally.

What's at stake

Noh is chasing her first major title and only her second LPGA victory. A win would cap a difficult season and validate her decision to focus on tempo and routine after a rough couple of months. The final round will test her ability to hold off a field that includes four of the world's top 10 players within five shots. The 50th edition of the championship, last held at Lytham in 2018 when Georgia Hall won, promises a tense Sunday on the Lancashire links.