Hae-ran Ryu is the leader at the halfway point of the 2026 Women’s British Open. What we are seeing from Ryu at this time is simply historic and unprecedented. Ryu has won the last two majors in women’s golf (the Women’s PGA Championship and Evian Championship), and is now trying to win her third major of her career (all since the end of June).
Ryu is currently at -7. She had a first round score of five-under-par 66 and a second round score of two-under-par 69. In the first round, Ryu had six birdies and one bogey. She birdied the first, fourth, sixth, seventh, 16th and 18th holes, and bogeyed the 15th hole. In the second round, Ryu had five birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. She birdied the seventh, ninth, 10th, 15th, and 18th holes, bogeyed the third hole, and double bogeyed the fifth hole.
It was impressive for Ryu to bounce back after a tough front nine. She actually was at one over par in the first half of Friday’s round at Royal Lytham.
The native of Yeongam-gun, South Korea has been mighty impressive at the last three majors. She has posted a total score of -39 in that time. When she won the Women’s PGA Championship, Ryu shot a winning score of -13. Then, when she won the Evan Championship, Ryu was at -19.
There are three golfers currently in contention. Shiho Kuwaki of Okayama, Japan is one stroke off the lead and in second place by herself at -6. There are then two golfers tied for third place at -5 and two strokes back. They are Yealimi Noh of San Francisco, California and Atthaya Thitikul of Ban Pong District, Thailand.
