Yealimi Noh seizes on Haeran Ryu’s late collapse to build three-shot lead in Women’s British Open
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Yealimi Noh took advantage of a surprising collapse by Haeran Ryu and found her rhythm at just the right time Saturday, with four birdies over the last 10 holes for a two-under 69 that gave her a three-shot lead going into the final round of the Women’s British Open.
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Noh, the 25-year-old Californian with only one LPGA title, played bogey-free on the back nine at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
Ryu is trying to become the first player since fellow South Korean Inbee Park to win three straight majors in the same year. Ryu was headed in that direction with a pair of birdies on the front nine to build a four-shot lead.
Her slide began with a bogey on the par-5 seventh, the start of five bogeys in an eight-hole stretch that cost her the lead and put her in a chasing mode the rest of theday.
Ryu finished with four straight pars for a 74. She kept double bogeys off her card, including the 10th hole when she was against a back lip of a pot bunker. She chipped it forward in the sand and got up-and-down from there for bogey.
Plus, she’s still in range of adding a third major this year to victories in the Women’s PGA Championship and Evian Championship.
“Tomorrow supposed to be wind the same as today,” Ryu said. “Today my shot was a little higher than the other two days. So I’m just trying to keep lower and no bunker.”
Nelly Korda, the No. 1 player who captured the first two majors of the year, had her round ruined by a pair of double bogeys, one on the 18th hole that gave her a 73 and left her eight behind.
Noh missed her last three cuts coming into the final LPGA major of the year, and had not registered a top 10 since last October.
She overcame a rocky start with three straight birdies starting on the par-3 ninth, including a birdie putt from 12 feet on the 10th, and avoided mistakes on the firm links coming in.
Noh, at No. 69 in the women’s world ranking and No. 95 in the Race to CME Globe on the LPGA Tour, has only contended one other time in a major when she missed a playoff by one shot in the 2021 Evian Championship.
“It was good for me to go home and reset, refresh, and come here with a different mindset,” Noh said of her decision to skip the Scottish.
The chasing pack also includes Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, one of only two players to have been No. 1 in the world without winning a major. Thitikul closed with nine straight pars for a 72 to join the pack at 4-under 209.
Noh said her fiancé, who plays amateur golf, has been a big support in reminding her to put some enjoyment into the game. They played last week at Sahalee Country Club, a tree-lined course near Seattle.
“Good practice for this week avoiding all those trees, helping me avoid these bunkers,” she said.
Now comes the big test, with a strong pack of contenders behind her and a chance at winning her first major championship.
“Just focus on playing the round,” Noh said. “I don’t want to think too much about the lead. Just settle into a good tempo and have fun out there.”
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