Day 2 Report

World number one Nelly Korda moved serenely into pole position for AIG Women’s Open glory at St Andrews, opening up a three-shot lead over playing partners Lilia Vu and Charley Hull in round two.

The lead changed hands with great regularity during the early stages of Friday, as a host of players staked their claim amid calmer morning conditions.

However, Korda soon seized command of proceedings, staying bogey-free and once again capitalising on the Old Course’s more gettable holes on her way to a second successive 68.

At eight-under, Korda – seeking a seventh title and second major of 2024 – is three clear of defending Champion Vu and last year’s runner-up Hull, who each finished strongly to re-establish themselves as the closest challengers.

The top three remained in place during an afternoon that saw the gusting winds rise once again, but Ruoning Yin battled to a level-par 72 to sit one behind Vu and Hull on four-under.

Amateur Louise Rydqvist put together a wonderful 67 in the day’s most challenging conditions to climb into a share of fifth and head the chase for low amateur honours.

Rydqvist was joined on three-under by 2022 AIG Women’s Open Champion Ashleigh Buhai, Lydia Ko, Mao Saigo, Pei-yun Chien and Casandra Alexander, while another amateur, Lottie Woad, is among seven players at two-under.

There was also a slice of history for Caroline Inglis, who carded a six-under 66 – the joint-best score in an AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews – to improve on her first-round score by 12 and climb 97 places on the leaderboard. Like Rydqvist, Inglis faced the strongest winds of the day, making her performance all the more admirable.

More of the same for consistent Korda

A feature of Korda’s week so far has been her impressive consistency, with errors kept to a minimum and chances repeatedly taken on the holes where she would expect to prosper.

After making five birdies and a solitary bogey on Thursday, Korda picked up shots at four of the same locations in her second round – the 17th, 18th, 5th and 9th.

While a pair of threes on the 17th may represent something of a bonus, it is noticeable that Korda’s other seven birdies have come on holes that can certainly be attacked, the Old Course’s two par-5s and the short par-4s of 9 and 18.

With only one bogey to her name through 36 holes and a new putter proving highly reliable, Korda has established a healthy cushion. If her form continues, she will take some beating.

Hull revives her challenge

Vu birdied two of the last three holes to complete a round of 70 and inject new life into her title defence, while there was an even bigger move from Hull after the first-round leader had struggled on the greens for much of Friday morning.

Hull was three-over for the day through 11 holes after a succession of short missed putts and appeared in danger of dropping out of contention.

A timely rally followed, however, as she picked up shots on three of her last five holes - the 5th, 6th and 9th – to climb right back into the mix.

Four amateurs made it through to the weekend at St Andrews, the joint most since eight non-professionals achieved the feat at St Andrews in 2007.

Rydqvist, the recent winner of the European Ladies Amateur Championship, was the undoubted pick of the bunch as she picked up shots on the 4th, 5th, 11th, 14th and 16th while keeping a bogey off her card.

“It's one of the most special days in my golf life thus far for sure,” said the leading amateur. “I don't think I've soaked it all in yet.”

Woad, number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, also impressed once again, climbing to two-under with a 70.

Julia Lopez Ramirez and Ela Anacona ended round two on two-over and four-over respectively, while Chun-wei Wu was the only amateur to miss out on nine-over.

Matthew’s fond farewell

Lexi Thompson could well be competing in her final AIG Women’s Open this week as she plays her final season on the LPGA Tour.

The popular American performed admirably on Friday to finish inside the cut line, following up Thursday’s four-over 76 with a one-under 71 highlighted by brilliant birdie putts at the 7th and 8th, and a remarkable bogey save on the 17th after her initial tee shot went out of bounds to the right.

Notable names to miss the cut included Yuka Saso, Minjee Lee and Brooke Henderson.

Fifteen years on from her famous triumph at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Catriona Matthew was also unable to make the weekend, but the Scot received a suitably warm ovation as she paused on the Swilcan Bridge crossing the 18th in her last appearance at the AIG Women’s Open.

Fittingly, Matthew finished in style, birdieing the final hole to draw delighted cheers from her home crowd.

"It was great walking up the last," said Matthew. "Obviously I had decided this was my last one, and to finish with a birdie, I couldn't have scripted it any better."