Yoo Hae-ran Slips to Second at AIG Women's Open After Tough Third Round

Yoo Hae-ran, aiming for a historic third consecutive major championship victory, slipped to a tie for second place after a challenging third round at the AIG Women's Open. She finished the day at 3-over-par 74, putting her three strokes behind the new leader, American-born Korean golfer Noh Ye-rim.

The 22-year-old golfer, who had held the sole lead after the second round, struggled on the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Links. After a promising start with birdies on the third and fourth holes, she faltered with consecutive bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes. Further bogeys on the tenth and twelfth holes saw her relinquish the lead, and she finished the round with another dropped shot on the fourteenth.

“

It was a really tough day. They were mistakes anyone could make. I could have made two double bogeys, but I managed to save them as bogeys. I'm not feeling bad, it was just a tough day. I need to prepare well for tomorrow.

Despite the setback, Yoo remained resolute. "It was a really tough day. They were mistakes anyone could make," she said. "I could have made two double bogeys, but I managed to save them as bogeys. I'm not feeling bad, it was just a tough day. I need to prepare well for tomorrow." She added, "Golf is a sport where nobody knows what will happen. I believe I still have a chance."

Noh Ye-rim, who carded a 2-under-par 69 in the third round, now leads at 7-under-par 206. This marks her first time leading a major championship. Yoo Hae-ran's quest for a third consecutive major win would place her in elite company, joining Babe Zaharias and Inbee Park as the only golfers to achieve this feat in a single season.

“

Golf is a sport where nobody knows what will happen. I believe I still have a chance.