Diksha Dagar, Aditi Ashok miss cut at 2026 AIG Women's Open
Synopsis
Both Indian golfers at the 2026 AIG Women's Open — Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok — missed the cut by a single shot, with Diksha's five-bogey back nine on day two undoing a promising start. Meanwhile, Korea's Haeran Ryu, already a two-time major winner in 2026, leads at 7-under and is chasing a historic third consecutive major title of the year.
Key Takeaways
Diksha Dagar carded a 7-over 78 on day two, with five bogeys on the back nine , finishing at +5 and missing the cut.
Aditi Ashok posted rounds of 74 and 73 to also finish at +5 , missing the cut by one shot .
The cut at the 2026 AIG Women's Open fell at +4 , with 68 players advancing to the weekend.
Korea's Haeran Ryu leads at 7-under-par after rounds of 66 and 69 at Royal Lytham & St Annes .
Ryu has already won the previous two major championships of 2026 and is chasing a historic third.
Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok, India's two leading contenders at the 2026 AIG Women's Open, were eliminated after the second round on 1 August at Royal Lytham & St Annes, as both failed to survive a cut that fell at +4. The exit ends India's challenge at the final women's major of the season.
Diksha's Collapse on the Back Nine
Diksha, who is supported by Hero, had entered day two with genuine momentum after a composed 2-under 69 on the opening round. However, her second round unravelled badly on the back nine, where she carded five bogeys in a disastrous stretch. She finished with a 7-over 78, recording eight bogeys against just one birdie across the round, leaving her at a combined +5 — one shot outside the cut line.
Notably, the collapse came in the closing stages, where composure under pressure proved elusive on a demanding links layout.
Aditi Exits by a Single Shot
Aditi Ashok fared only marginally better, carding rounds of 74 and 73 to finish at +5 as well. All three of her bogeys in the second round came on the back nine, against a solitary birdie. She too missed the cut by one shot, with the 68 players who made it through to the weekend doing so at +4 or better.
Ryu Leads at the Halfway Mark
At the top of the leaderboard, Korea's Haeran Ryu — a two-time major champion who has won both major championships contested in 2026 — holds a one-stroke lead at 7-under-par. Despite a rocky start that included a bogey on the third and a double bogey on the fifth, Ryu recovered emphatically, rolling in birdies on holes 7, 9, 10, 15, and 18 for a second-round 69 (-2), following her opening 66.
Japan's Shiho Kuwaki sits in second place at 6-under after a round of 70 (-1) featuring four birdies and three bogeys. Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul and American Yealimi Noh share third place at 5-under, after rounds of 73 and 70 respectively. Thitikul, a five-time LET winner who had led overnight, struggled on day two with just one birdie and three bogeys.
Home Hopes and the Weekend Field
Korea's Soo Bin Joo is in fifth place outright at 3-under after a second-round 69 (-2). Eight players are tied for sixth at 2-under, among them English home favourites Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, as well as Spanish amateur Paula Martin Sampedro. Hull, despite finishing even par on the day, produced one of the round's standout moments — holing out from the bunker on the 17th.
With Ryu bidding for a historic third consecutive major of the year, the weekend at Royal Lytham & St Annes is set up for a compelling finish.
Point of View
But five bogeys on the back nine in a single round at a major points to a recurring vulnerability under links pressure. Aditi's exit by one shot — with all her day-two bogeys again on the back nine — reinforces a pattern of late-round leakage that has cost both players at the highest level. India has the talent to be present at majors; converting presence into weekend berths remains the unresolved challenge.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok make the cut at the 2026 AIG Women's Open?
No, both missed the cut at the 2026 AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Diksha Dagar finished at +5 after a second-round 78, while Aditi Ashok also finished at +5 after rounds of 74 and 73 — both one shot outside the cut line of +4.
What went wrong for Diksha Dagar in the second round?
Diksha Dagar had a disastrous back nine in her second round, carding five bogeys in that stretch alone. She finished with eight bogeys against just one birdie for a 7-over 78, erasing the promise of her opening 2-under 69.
Who leads the 2026 AIG Women's Open after the second round?
Korea's Haeran Ryu leads at 7-under-par after rounds of 66 and 69. Ryu, a two-time major champion who has won both majors played in 2026, holds a one-stroke lead over Japan's Shiho Kuwaki heading into the weekend.
Where is the 2026 AIG Women's Open being played?
The 2026 AIG Women's Open is being played at Royal Lytham & St Annes in England. It is the final women's major of the 2026 season.
Who are the other contenders heading into the weekend at Royal Lytham?
Japan's Shiho Kuwaki is in second at 6-under, while Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul and American Yealimi Noh share third at 5-under. English home favourites Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are among eight players tied for sixth at 2-under.
