The golf world has its eyes locked on one name this week: Ryu Hae-ran. As the AIG Women’s Open tees off along England’s coast, the South Korean superstar is attempting something unprecedented - winning a third consecutive major championship in a single season. After capturing the Chevron Championship in April and the U.S. Women’s Open in June, Ryu arrives at Royal Birkdale with history hanging in the balance and a swagger that’s impossible to ignore.
“I don’t feel pressure,” Ryu said Tuesday through a translator. “I feel excitement. This is why we practice.”
And honestly? The numbers back her up. Since June, she’s posted top-10 finishes in every LPGA start, including a T-5 at the Evian Championship. She isn’t just winning - she’s dominating. Now, with a third straight major on the line, the question shifts from whether she can pull it off to: Who’s going to stop her?
The Historic Stakes: Can Ryu Hae-ran Make It Three Straight?
This isn’t just another tournament. It’s the tournament. The AIG Women’s Open represents the final major of the LPGA season, and for Ryu Hae-ran, it’s the final piece of a puzzle that would rewrite the record books.
Dominance in 2025 - A Season for the Ages
Let’s rewind. Ryu’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of legendary. She won the Chevron Championship by three strokes, then followed it with a gritty, two-shot victory at the U.S. Women’s Open. Those two wins alone would cement her season. She’s added two more victories - the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the JM Eagle LA Championship - giving her four wins total this year.
Her stats read like video-game numbers: a 69.12 scoring average (best on tour), 4.85 birdies per round, and a staggering 78.4% greens in regulation. She leads the Rolex Rankings by a wide margin. But the one stat that matters most? She’s 2-for-2 in majors this year.
“She has this calmness that’s almost unsettling,” said LPGA analyst Judy Rankin. “When Ryu gets into contention, she doesn’t blink. And that’s terrifying for everyone else.”
The Challenge of the AIG Women’s Open in England (2026 Edition)
Now the stage shifts to England’s windswept coast. Royal Birkdale has hosted this championship twice before, most recently in 2019. The course demands precision, patience, and the ability to punch shots under a stiff breeze. It’s a different beast than the parkland layouts Ryu faced earlier this year.
But here’s the thing: Ryu thrives on adversity. Her T-5 at the Evian showed she can grind out results even when her A-game isn’t perfect. And her ball-striking numbers suggest less wind - and spin - will be her weapons of choice.
Course Conditions and Key Competition at the 2026 Women’s Open
Royal Birkdale tests every club in the bag. The rough is thick, the fairways are firm, and the greens - while large - demand pinpoint approach shots. This isn’t a bomber’s paradise. It’s a thinking player’s course.
Links Golf Demands - Adapting from Royal Porthcawl to England’s Coast
Last year, Ryu finished T-8 at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, a course that played similarly to Birkdale. That experience proves invaluable. She knows how to flight wedges low, bump-and-run onto greens, and trust a putter when the wind howls.
“Links golf is about creativity,” Ryu said. “You can’t just fire at pins. You have to play to spots. I love that challenge.”
Her short game, anchored by Cleveland wedges and a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter, is built for these conditions. Expect her to lean heavily on those clubs this week.
Rivals to Watch - Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko, and Emerging Talents
She won’t have it easy. Nelly Korda, currently ranked No. 2, is hunting her first major of 2026. After a wrist injury derailed her 2025, Korda looks sharp again, with three top-5s in her last five starts.
Jin Young Ko, the 2025 AIG Women’s Open champion, is always a threat. Her course management at Porthcawl was a masterclass. And don’t sleep on emerging stars like Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and American Rose Zhang, both eager to break through on a major stage.
But Ryu has the momentum. She has the stats. And she has the nerve.
Ryu’s Game and Gear - What Gives Her the Edge?
Let’s talk tools. Ryu’s bag reflects consistency. She trusts Srixon throughout, from driver to irons. Her Cleveland wedges provide spin control on approach shots. And her Scotty Cameron putter has been money from inside 15 feet.
