LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England – Haeran Ryu has the chance to do something that’s never been done before in the history of the professional game: win three consecutive majors in only three starts.
And she’s off to a flying start in the final major of the season, making bookend birdies in a 5-under 66 to take one-shot lead at the AIG Women’s British Open.
“Yeah, my golf is pretty good,” Ryu said in the understatement of the year.
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Ryu’s remarkable run began at the KPMG Women’s PGA at Hazeltine, where she came in cold after taking six weeks off for a minor surgery and marched to her first major championship victory. She became only the second player in major championship history to come back from a 10-shot deficit after the first round.
Haeran Ryu of South Korea plays her third shot on the sixth hole during the First Round of the AIG Women’s Open 2026 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on July 30, 2026 in Lytham St Annes, England.
The LPGA had a week off in between majors and Ryu, after going home to Vegas, flew out to the Amundi Evian Championship feeling free with her first major title in her back pocket.
In France, Ryu had a putt for 59 on Saturday that she left short in the heart. After recording a 60, the lowest round in major championship history, Ryu won the next day in a playoff over Brooke Henderson.
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Then it was off to South Korea for a whirlwind tour with her sponsors and some time on the range with her swing coach.
After that, she made her way to the north of England for the fifth and final major of the season. (Ryu’s fourth major as the surgery caused her to miss the U.S. Women’s Open.)
Ryu’s chance at history this week is made possible by the fact that there are three LPGA majors staged in the span of six weeks. Get hot and it’s a life-changing stretch.
There’s an undeniable ease about the way Ryu’s plays the game right now – calm and confidant.
“Yeah, that’s right,” said Ryu, “because before I got the major win, it was so much pressure.”
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Only four players have won three consecutive majors:
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Mickey Wright (1961, 1962)
Only four players have won three majors in single season:
Ryu looks to join their elite company.
Haeran Ryu of South Korea reacts on the first green during the First Round of the AIG Women’s Open 2026 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on July 30, 2026 in Lytham St Annes, England.
In the opening round at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Ryu played alongside Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko. Korda won the first two majors of the season but has sputtered of late. She opened with a 73 on a sun-splashed summer day. Ko, the 2024 British Open champ, shot 71.
“Could honestly be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing,” said Ko of the Korda/Ryu major split.
It’s not often that someone has the chance to do something that’s never been done before in the history of the game.
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Ryu might be making a habit of it.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior Golfweek writer covering the LPGA and women’s golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Haeran Ryu leads AIG Women’s British Open, where she’s aiming for third straight major
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