Korda rebounds with three-under 68 to climb back into contention at Women's Open

World number one Nelly Korda responded to a testing opening day by carding a three-under-par 68 in round two of the Women's Open. The score moved her to one under par overall and left her five shots adrift of leader Haeran Ryu at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Course.

Published: 2026-07-31T19:09:31.0000000Z. After a difficult first round, Korda produced a markedly stronger performance on day two to steady her position in the tournament. The world number one’s second-day effort erased the problems she encountered earlier in the championship. The result improved her standing on the leaderboard ahead of the weekend.

Korda’s second-round 68 represented a clear uptick in form compared with her opening day. The three-under-par card was enough to correct course after a shaky start to the event, demonstrating a return to more consistent scoring. That round was recorded at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Course, where the major is being contested.

Her total of one under par reflects the aggregate of her two rounds and places her within striking distance, though not in the lead. Korda sits five shots behind Haeran Ryu, who occupies the top spot on the leaderboard. The gap outlines the challenge she faces if she hopes to close in on the leader over the remaining rounds.

The improvement on day two removed much of the immediate pressure created by her opening-round woes. By carding a low score, she regained momentum and avoided falling further down the standings. The round showed that she can still post competitive numbers at this venue despite earlier difficulties.

Play at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Course now shifts focus to the weekend, with Korda’s position setting up a contest to watch in the final rounds. Her standing at one under par keeps her in contention, while the five-shot deficit defines the margin she must overcome. The leaderboard configuration promises an engaging stretch of golf over the next phases of the championship.

Korda’s recovery across the first two days has reinserted her into the event’s narrative as the tournament moves into its closing stages. The second-round 68 put her back on an upward trajectory and established the scenario described as an exciting weekend chase. Observers will now watch how she and the leaders perform over the remaining rounds.