Yealimi Noh Holds Three‑Shot Lead After Ryu Hae‑ran’s Third‑Round Slip at Lytham

Yealimi Noh enters the final day of the Women’s Open with a three‑shot lead after Ryu Hae‑ran faltered late in round three at Royal Lytham and St Annes on Saturday. Ryu’s bid for a third consecutive major is now uncertain, with 18 holes remaining for her to mount a recovery.

The third round at Royal Lytham and St Annes produced a dramatic swing in fortunes. Early on, Ryu Hae‑ran appeared to be extending her grip on the tournament, building a four‑shot advantage after four holes and still leading by four on the 7th tee. By the time play finished for the day, Yealimi Noh had moved in front and Ryu stood three shots off the lead. England’s Lottie Woad and Charley Hull also remained in contention as the tournament headed to its final day.

Ryu had approached Saturday with the rare opportunity of winning three majors in succession, a feat that would have marked an extraordinary run of form. She began the round in command and looked to be on course to make history, but the middle and closing portions of her round cost her the margin she had established. The change in momentum underlined how quickly conditions at Royal Lytham and St Annes can alter a leaderboard.

The course has a reputation for producing sudden reversals, a fact illustrated by past majors at Lytham. Observers recalled that this venue has seen late collapses before; Adam Scott suffered a notable breakdown here when Ernie Els went on to claim the Open of 2012. Saturday’s action reinforced the idea that no lead is safe on this layout and that the final day can yet reshape the outcome.

Yealimi Noh’s steady play carried her into the clubhouse with the lead, while Ryu must regroup overnight knowing a single round remains. The exact scorelines for each player through 54 holes were decisive in determining the positions they now occupy going into Sunday. The presence of contenders such as Lottie Woad and Charley Hull means the final round will feature several players capable of pressuring the leaders.

Conditions at Royal Lytham and St Annes, and the course’s capacity to unsettle challengers, have set the stage for a tense finish. Ryu retains the chance to respond over the last 18 holes, but her earlier advantage has evaporated and the title is firmly up for grabs. The final round will determine whether Noh can convert the lead or if Ryu — or another challenger — can engineer a comeback.