Haeran Ryu continued her stellar major form, outplaying Nelly Korda head to head Thursday at the AIG Women’s Open.
Ryu shot 5-under 66 at Royal Lytham & St Annes to grab the early lead over Yealimi Noh (67). Korda struggled to a 2-over 73 and was outside the top 60 with the afternoon wave in action.
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Ryu and Korda have each won two majors this season. Korda claimed the first two, at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open. Ryu then captured the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship in successive starts.
Just over a month ago, Ryu was major-less. She’s now seeking three in a row.
Only four players in LPGA history have won three consecutive majors. Inbee Park was the most recent to do so, in 2013. Pat Bradley did it over two seasons, in 1985-86. Mickey Wright (1961-62) and Babe Zaharias (1950) are the other two.
Ryu has found the perfect time to peak as the LPGA is contesting three majors in a four-event span.
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The 25-year-old South Korean, grouped with Korda and past AIG champ Lydia Ko (71) in Round 1, birdied four of her first seven holes Thursday. After her lone dropped shot at the par-4 15th, Ryu closed with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to claim the clubhouse lead.
Korda, meanwhile, had a separate experience. She bogeyed Nos. 2 and 3, picked up both shots with birdies on Nos. 6 and 8, then made two bogeys and seven pars on her inward half.
Korda missed the cut at the Evian and tied for 16th at last week’s Women’s Scottish Open.
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