The New Standard: Haeran Ryu's Quest for a Historic Major Hat Trick
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As she leads the AIG Women's Open, Ryu is positioning herself to join an elite circle of dominance that is redefining the modern era of women's golf.
OPINION: In the current landscape of women's golf, the bar for greatness has shifted. We are no longer witnessing a mere collection of strong players; we are seeing the emergence of a relentless standard of dominance. At the center of this shift is Haeran Ryu.
As reported by Sportsnet, the South Korean star currently holds a one-shot lead after two rounds of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. While the leaderboard shows Ryu at 7 under overall—one stroke ahead of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, with Yealimi Noh and Jeeno Thitikul tied for third two strokes back—the real story is the historical weight of the moment. Ryu is not simply chasing another trophy; she is pursuing a third consecutive major victory.
To understand the magnitude of this pursuit, one must look back to 2013. According to Sportsnet, that was the last time a player managed to claim three straight majors, a feat achieved by Inbee Park. Ryu has already laid the groundwork for this historic run, having secured wins at the Women's PGA at Hazeltine and the Evian Championship, where she closed with a 60.
This isn't just about individual brilliance; it is about a concentrated era of power. According to Sportsnet, the LPGA's four major titles this season have all gone to either Ryu or Nelly Korda. Korda, who took over the No. 1 world ranking from Thitikul in April, won the first two majors of the season before Ryu took the subsequent two. While Korda currently trails Ryu by six shots after shooting a 68 on Friday, the duality of their success signals a new epoch of the sport.
Even the struggle of Jeeno Thitikul underscores this shift. Thitikul is one of only two players to reach the No. 1 world ranking without winning a major. Despite a bogey-free 64 in the first round of the AIG Women's Open, Thitikul struggled on Friday, carding a 73 that included three bogeys. Thitikul admitted to Sportsnet that she felt frustrated by a three-putt on the 14th and a bunker on the 15th, noting she wasn't hitting as close to the pin as she did on the opening day.
For Ryu, the challenge at Royal Lytham & St. Annes has been as much mental as it is physical. Facing windy conditions and a course she described to Sportsnet as "stressful" due to the abundance of bunkers, Ryu showed resilience by overcoming a double bogey on the par-3 fifth. She ultimately closed her second round with a birdie on the 18th to card a 2-under 69.
If Ryu secures this victory, she won't just be adding to her trophy case; she will be cementing a run that proves the modern game is defined by a level of consistency and dominance rarely seen in the sport's history.