Yealimi Noh leads 2026 AIG Women's Open by 3 shots; Diksha, Aditi miss cut
Synopsis
Yealimi Noh turned a shaky front nine into a commanding three-shot lead at the 2026 AIG Women's Open — three birdies in a row on the back nine at Royal Lytham did the damage. With five players tied for second and back-to-back Major champion Haeran Ryu lurking three behind, Sunday's final round sets up as one of the most open Major finishes in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Yealimi Noh leads the 2026 AIG Women's Open at seven-under-par after a third-round 69 at Royal Lytham & St Annes on 2 August 2026 .
Noh holds a three-shot lead over a five-way tie for second at four-under-par , featuring Esther Henseleit , Lucy Li , Jeeno Thitikul , Haeran Ryu , and Shiho Kuwaki .
Haeran Ryu , winner of the last two Major championships , slipped back with a third-round 74 (+3) .
India's Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok both missed the cut after the second round.
England's Lottie Woad is seventh at three-under-par ; Charley Hull is tied eighth at two-under .
American Yealimi Noh fired a third-round two-under 69 at Royal Lytham & St Annes on 2 August 2026 to seize a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2026 AIG Women's Open. The American, who has endured a modest season by her own admission, climbed from a share of third place overnight to the summit of the leaderboard with a total of seven-under-par.
India's Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok were unable to advance, both exiting after the second round.
Noh's Rocky Road to the Top
Noh's moving-day round was far from straightforward. She dropped shots on the fourth and fifth holes before picking one back on the sixth. A further bogey on seven threatened to derail her round, but Noh responded emphatically — reeling off three consecutive birdies on holes nine, ten, and eleven, then adding a fourth on 16 to pull clear of the field.
'I have had a rough year so far,' Noh said after her round. 'Golf is crazy — it just takes one week, one round to switch it and play a whole different game. I'm happy to be in this position.'
She added: 'I really focused on my tempo [on the back nine]. I was satisfied with 17 and 15 as well. I don't think I've ever had to hit so many hybrids off the tee or approach shots. Usually, I'm on the longer side so it's been interesting having longer irons in. I feel pretty ready [to win]. There's so much golf left and so much left to do. I want to go out there and enjoy it.'
Logjam at Four-Under: Five-Way Tie for Second
Five players share second place at four-under-par: Germany's Esther Henseleit, Americans Lucy Li, Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul, Korea's Haeran Ryu, and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki. Henseleit was the standout among them on Saturday, carding a superb 67 (-4) with back-to-back birdies on holes two and three, further gains on six, nine, and 11, and only one dropped shot — on the 15th.
Ryu, who has won the last two Major championships, had held the overnight lead but endured a difficult third round, posting a 74 (+3) to slip back into the chasing pack. Li's 69 (-2) featured four birdies and two bogeys.
The Rest of the Leaderboard
England's Lottie Woad sits in solo seventh at three-under-par after a round of 70 (-1). A group of four players share eighth at two-under-par: Japan's Ayaka Furue and Minami Katsu, Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen, and England's Charley Hull.
Indian Campaign Ends After Round Two
For Indian golf fans, the tournament ended early. Diksha Dagar, a two-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, and Aditi Ashok, India's most decorated women's golfer on the international stage, both failed to make the cut after the second round. Their exits leave India without a contender in Sunday's final round.
What to Watch in the Final Round
Noh's three-shot cushion is a comfortable but not unassailable advantage at Royal Lytham & St Annes, a course that has historically produced dramatic final-round swings. With five players bunched at four-under, any wobble from the leader could trigger a multi-way contest for the Claret Jug equivalent. Ryu, as a back-to-back Major champion, remains the most dangerous threat if she can recapture Saturday's lost form.
Point of View
But the leaderboard structure makes this a final-round minefield. Five players within three shots — including a back-to-back Major champion — means one bad hole from the leader could flip the entire contest. What is underreported is the Indian angle: both Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok missing the cut at a Major reflects the structural gap between Indian women's golf and the global elite, despite both players carrying genuine LET pedigree. A deeper development pipeline and more Major starts are the only credible fix.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the 2026 AIG Women's Open after round three?
American Yealimi Noh leads the 2026 AIG Women's Open at seven-under-par after firing a third-round 69 at Royal Lytham & St Annes on 2 August 2026. She holds a three-shot advantage over five players tied for second at four-under-par.
Who is tied for second place at the 2026 AIG Women's Open?
Five players share second place at four-under-par: Germany's Esther Henseleit, American Lucy Li, Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul, Korea's Haeran Ryu, and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki.
Did Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok make the cut at the 2026 AIG Women's Open?
No. Both Indian players — Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok — exited the tournament after the second round, failing to make the cut for the weekend's play at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
How did Haeran Ryu perform in round three?
Haeran Ryu, who has won the last two Major championships, had a difficult moving day, carding a 74 (+3) to slip from the overnight lead into a share of second place at four-under-par.
What is Esther Henseleit's position after the third round?
Germany's Esther Henseleit is tied for second at four-under-par after firing the day's joint-best round of 67 (-4), which included birdies on holes two, three, six, nine, and eleven.
