Bangkok: South Korean professional golfer Yoo Ha-ran, 25, is making strides towards a historic third consecutive major championship victory after completing the first day of the AIG Women's Open with a remarkable 5 under par 66, placing her in a tie for second. This performance sets the stage for the final major of the year at Royal Lytham and St Annes in England.
According to Thai News Agency, this tournament marks Ha-ran's fourth consecutive appearance and she began the first round aggressively, securing a birdie on the opening hole and another on the fourth. Her momentum continued with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 holes six and seven, ending the front nine at 4 under par.
On the back nine, Ha-ran maintained par across the first five holes. Despite a bogey on the 15th, she recovered with birdies on the 16th and 18th holes, concluding the day with six birdies and one bogey. Ha-ran expressed satisfaction with her performance, especially under changing weather conditions, and was pleased to finish with a birdie on the final hole.
The 2026 season has been exceptional for Ha-ran, who is currently second in the Race to the CME Globe standings and ranked third globally. She has made the cut in 11 of 12 tournaments, finishing in the top 10 in eight, including wins at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship.
Ha-ran previously withdrew from the US Women's Open for medical treatment, which led to a beneficial recovery period. Her current form is a testament to her refreshed physical and mental condition post-recovery.
Should Yoo Ha-ran succeed in winning the championship this Sunday, she will become the first female golfer since Inbee Park in 2013 to clinch three major championships in a single season, joining an elite group of players in LPGA history. Additionally, this victory would secure her the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award and tighten the race for Player of the Year against world number one Nelly Korda.