Haeran Ryu outshines Nelly Korda, trails Jeeno Thitikul in bid for third straight major

Haeran Ryu is making a serious run at history at the AIG Women's Open. Playing at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Ryu carded a 5-under 66 to place herself in contention for a third consecutive major title. This performance marks a notable shift in momentum as she outperformed Nelly Korda during their opening round matchup.

While Ryu secured the clubhouse lead early in the day, she now trails Jeeno Thitikul. Thitikul holds a two-shot advantage entering Friday after finishing her opening round with a 7-under 64. The competitive field remains tight as players navigate the course bunkers and challenging conditions.

Nelly Korda struggled to find consistency during her first round. She finished the day at 2-over 73, leaving her tied for 53rd place. Korda remains one of the season's top performers but faces an uphill task to close the gap on the leaders over the next three days.

Ryu maintains a calm perspective regarding the potential for a third straight major win. She is currently focused on her own execution rather than the record books. Her season accuracy on greens is historically high, and she continues to lean on that precision as the tournament progresses toward the weekend.