Ryu leads Open in pursuit of third straight major

Ryu ends round with birdie to move into the lead

>-7 H Ryu (Kor); -6 S Kuwaki (Jpn); -5 Y Noh (US), A Thitikul (Tha); -3 S Joo (Kor); -2 L Woad (Eng), C Hull (Eng), C Wannasaen (Tha), L Li (US), J Yan (US), L Coughlin (US), P Martin (Esp), M Katsu (Jpn)

>Selected others: -1 L Ko (NZ), N Korda (US), M Rhodes (Eng); +2 A Hewson (Eng), +6 G Hall (Eng), +7 M Yamashita (Jpn)

>South Korea's Haeran Ryu birdied the 18th to bounce back from a poor start and end the second round as leader of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

>The 25-year-old, aiming to become only the fifth woman in history to claim three majors in a calendar year, is one shot clear of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki.

>Earlier this month, Ryu claimed her second major in the space of two weeks at the Evian Championship, and her remarkable major form has continued at the Open.

>Despite being three over for the day through five holes, she sank five birdies to shoot two under par and build on her opening-round score of 66.

>"The last hole is so important as it is always good for tomorrow, I always want to make a good score on the last hole," Ryu told BBC Sport.

>"I've had two birdies on it, which is a good thing.

>"I just stayed patient after that [the tough start] and I made some birdies to finish under par. I am so happy now."

>Kuwaki, who finished Thursday two shots behind leader Jeeno Thitikul, carded a one-under-par round to take advantage of Thitikul's dropped shots.

>Following a spectacular seven-under-par 64, Thailand's Thitikul shot a two-over-par 73.

>American Yealimi Noh joins world number two Thitikul on five under par after shooting 70.

>England's Lottie Woad is in a strong position to compete for a first major title despite a disappointing end to her second round.

>The 22-year-old, who arrived as one of the favourites, ended the day on two under par.

>Woad's bogey-free opening round of 69 was followed up by a score of 71, which included three birdies on the front nine.

>However, two dropped shots on the back nine - one on 17 - leaves her five shots back.

>England's Charley Hull went round in even par to remain on two under par, while world number one Nelly Korda shot 68 to recover from an opening-round two-over-par 73.

>Three-time major champion Lydia Ko is also well placed to make a move from one under par, as is England's Mimi Rhodes, who recovered from two early bogeys to sink three birdies.

>'Absolute dime' - best shots from second round of Women's Open

>Who are the best active players never to have won a major in the women's game?

>For many, Hull and Thitikul would be the first names that come to mind.

>Hull has finished runner-up in five majors, with her most recent near-miss coming in June's US Open.

>Her solid opening round at the Open left her two under par and in a strong position to challenge for a maiden major title.

>A tricky back nine on her second round ended in style, as a birdie from the bunker on the 17th was followed by a par at the last.

>It was not a round that ever truly caught fire, despite featuring three birdies, but it keeps Hull firmly in contention.

>"I am really looking forward to it [the weekend], it's going to be loads of fun," Hull said.

>"I feel like now my nerves have settled down. My back was actually playing up for me a little bit, a little bit sore, that's why I think I wasn't getting through the ball how I wanted to."

>Former world number one Thitikul, who has 11 top-10 finishes in majors, said the stronger wind compared with Thursday played a part in her scoring.

>She lipped out for birdie on the sixth and seventh before a lengthy par save on the 15th prevented back-to-back bogeys.

>Her faultless opening round contained no dropped shots, but that run ended on the third hole of her second round.

>Thitikul's only birdie of the day came on 12, but there could have been more. She also lipped out with her final putt, which would have pulled another shot back.

>Having spoken previously about struggling to cope with the noise of finally winning a major, Thitikul may be content for the spotlight to shift elsewhere after her stunning opening round.

>Hull responds to criticism of prank on caddie

>Korda produces 'special' second round to recover from day one woes

>Following an opening two-over-par 73, Korda needed to hit the ground running in her second round to get back into contention.

>Korda's victory at the US Women's Open in June gave her a chance to complete the career Grand Slam, achieved by winning all five women's major titles.

>A run of four birdies in six holes began with a putt from about 20 feet on the fourth.

>Another lengthy putt from the edge of the green on the 11th continued what was becoming a sensational round.

>"That's 36 [holes] in, 36 holes to go. You never know what's going to happen. It's golf. It's links golf," Korda said.

>"I am just going to try to have the same attitude I had today going into the weekend."

>Having won the first two majors of the year, Korda is also in contention to become only the fifth woman in history to claim three majors in a calendar year.

>That looked unlikely after Thursday, but her performance on Friday showed why she is a four-time major champion with the chance to achieve something special.

>Her round still contained three bogeys and her last birdie came on 13, preventing a further climb up the leaderboard.