AIG Women’s Open preview: Royal Lytham & St Annes test awaits double major winner Haeran Ryu
South Korean star comes to Royal Lytham & St Annes in the search for a third consecutive major title in 2026.
Haeran Ryu is heading into this year’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes full of confidence as she seeks a hat-trick of major titles in 2026.
The South Korean golfer comes to the Fylde coast on the back of a hugely successful year, which has brought back-to-back majors with last month’s Women’s PGA Championship title followed by victory at the Evian Championship a fortnight ago.
While the 25-year-old enters the tournament on a high, she acknowledged there is plenty to learn when it comes to links golf.
She said: “I got a lot of confidence after two major champion(ships) but this is another golf course so I just keep working hard with my team.
“I think (the) first experience for the links course was four years ago in AIG, so it was so tough.
“I remember that, because (it was) too windy but my ball flies too high so it was so hard to hit greens.
“These days it’s much better than four years ago, but (it’s) still hard.”
Ryu’s play-off victory at the Evian Championship was set up by a third-round of 60, making her the only player to have hit that score in a major.
Having spent time back home with family and friends since then, she admitted it had been hard to take in at the time.
She said: “I can’t believe it, because before my low number is 62.
“I think about it like I think this is my lowest score in my life - but I make some 60, so is it for sure my score? Is it right?
“So I counted again and my caddie after the 18 holes - but it’s 11-under par and par 71 in the Evian, so, oh, my God, it's a 60.
“Still I can't believe it. That course is so tricky because (there is) a lot of hilly and the green is tricky and the lie is tricky.
“I made a great score at the course, so I can do it. I’m so happy.”