Yu Ha-ran Sails Smoothly Toward Third Straight Major Title, Leads AIG Women's Open After Round 2

Yu Ha-ran is cruising smoothly toward her third consecutive victory at a women's golf major tournament.

World No. 3 Yu Ha-ran carded one double bogey and one bogey, but bounced back with five birdies to shoot a 2-under-par at the second round of the AIG Women's Open held at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Links in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England.

With a halfway total of 7-under 135, Yu moved up from tied for second after the first day to take the sole lead.

Shiho Kuwaki of Japan chased Yu in second place, one stroke behind.

Korean-American player Yealimi Noh and world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul tied for third at 5-under 137.

If Yu maintains her lead through the remaining two rounds, she will become the first player to win three consecutive women's golf major titles since Park In-bee in 2013.

Yu won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship, both major events, this season.

Yu's start to the second round was less than ideal.

After carding her first bogey on the 3rd hole, she dropped two shots on the 5th hole and fell into a slump.

However, she steadied her nerves with a birdie on the 7th hole, followed by back-to-back birdies on the 9th and 10th holes, and picked up a stroke each on the 15th and 18th holes.

Notably, on the 15th hole, considered the most difficult on the course, she successfully sank a 15-meter birdie putt.

In her post-match interview, Yu said, "Perhaps because we played in the afternoon, the strong winds made it difficult, but as it got later in the back nine, the wind died down, allowing me to make many birdies."

Yu added, "I've been playing golf for over 15 years, and it took quite a long time to feel comfortable being at the top of the leaderboard. These days, I just enjoy the game calmly without worrying about other players."

World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who played in the same group as Yu for the past two days, shook off her sluggish performance from the first round by shooting 3-under to tie for 14th at 1-under 141 overall, moving up the leaderboard.

She sits six strokes behind the leader, Yu.

Korda won the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open this season, matching Yu with two major victories.

Korda remarked, "My shots were definitely better than yesterday," while noting, "I'm still struggling to read the putting lines properly, so I'm relying heavily on my caddie."

Following the conclusion of the second round, 68 players made the cut at 4-over 146, among whom 11 were South Korean players, including Yu.

Amateur player Yang Yun-seo also shot a 4-over 146 to advance to the third round.

However, 10 South Korean players, including Shin Ji-yai, Yoon Ina, Kim Min-sol, and Kim Min-sun, failed to make the cut.

Defending champion Miyu Yamashita also struggled after failing to escape a greenside bunker in one shot on the 18th hole, carding a quadruple bogey that resulted in her missing the cut at 7-over 149.
 

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.