Haeran Ryu didn’t win a third-consecutive major at the AIG Women’s Open, but she left Royal Lytham and St Annes with a smile.
“I think this week is pretty much (my best play) in the British Open,” she said Sunday, “so I’m so happy right now to be done.”
It was a long, exhausting weekend in England, one that finished with a tie for sixth in the season’s final major.
Ryu was looking to become the fifth player in LPGA history – the first since 2013 – to win three consecutive majors. She captured the KPMG Women’s PGA five weeks ago and followed that with a victory in the Amundi Evian Championship.
This week began with promise.
Ryu shot 5-under 66 Thursday morning and held the clubhouse lead before being passed later in the day by Jeeno Thitikul. A Friday 69 gave her a one-stroke lead entering the weekend and a great start Saturday buoyed thought of a runaway.
Ryu led by four shots after six holes in Round 3, before making five bogeys in an eight-hole stretch. She shot 3-over 74 to drop three back of 54-hole leader Yealimi Noh.
A birdie at the first Sunday offered some hope, but Ryu bogeyed the third and doubled the fifth (she played that par 3 in 4 over for the week). While no one was able to separate from the field, Ryu couldn’t make her own move. She shot another 74 to finish four out of the Esther Henseleit-Shiho Kuwaki playoff, which was won by Kuwaki, Ryu’s Sunday playing competitor.
Though Ryu didn’t match fellow South Korean Inbee Park from 13 years ago, she did – as she mentioned – earn her top finish in this major. Her best result in three previous editions was a tie for 21st in her 2023 debut.
As for what’s next? The LPGA is off this coming week before resuming at the Standard Portland Classic. Ryu said she will likely play there but, “Next week, just off week, and then just go back to home and just rest in my bed.”
