Haeran Ryu Chases History at Royal Lytham as Women's Open Gets Underway

The Stage Is Set at Royal Lytham

If you haven't been paying attention to Haeran Ryu lately, now's the time to start. The South Korean sensation rolled into Royal Lytham & St Annes this week carrying something no player in women's golf has achieved in over a decade—two consecutive major championship victories. And folks, she's not here just to participate.

Day 1 of the 2026 Women's Open delivered exactly the kind of drama we've come to expect when world-class talent meets one of England's most demanding links courses. The 59-minute highlight package from the BBC tells the story, but let me break down what it all means for the championship ahead.

Ryu's Quest for Three in a Row

Let's put this in perspective: winning back-to-back majors is hard enough. But three consecutive major victories? That's the kind of territory reserved for legends. We're talking about a feat that puts you in conversations with Annika Sorenstam and Inbee Park.

Ryu has been absolutely clinical in her recent major performances, and her form heading into Royal Lytham had the entire field on notice. The question on everyone's mind wasn't whether she could handle the pressure—she's already proven that twice over—but whether this demanding links layout would trip her up.

Royal Lytham: A True Links Test

For those unfamiliar with the venue, Royal Lytham & St Annes isn't your typical seaside walk. This course has hosted numerous Open Championships on the men's side and has a reputation for punishing wayward shots with its infamous pot bunkers and thick rough.

The opening round conditions played a significant role in separating the contenders from the pretenders. Links golf demands creativity, patience, and above all, the ability to flight the ball in varying wind conditions. Not everyone in the field showed up ready for that challenge.

What the First Round Revealed

Based on the day's action, a few things became immediately clear:

• Course management will be absolutely crucial this week—attacking pins at the wrong times will lead to big numbers
• The par-3s are going to decide this championship—they're demanding precise distance control
• Experience on links layouts is providing a noticeable advantage early on

The Betting Landscape Takes Shape

For those of you with money on the line—and let's be honest, that's probably most of you reading this—Day 1 gave us plenty to chew on. Ryu came in as the favorite for obvious reasons, and nothing in the opening round should shake your confidence if you backed her pre-tournament.

That said, value hunters should be scouring the leaderboard for players who handled the conditions well but might be flying under the radar. Major championships at venues like Royal Lytham have a way of elevating ball-strikers and penalizing one-dimensional games.

Three More Days of Drama Ahead

Here's what makes this week so compelling: we're not just watching a golf tournament. We're watching potential history unfold. Every shot Ryu hits carries the weight of legacy. Every putt she makes or misses moves her closer to or further from immortality in the women's game.

The highlights package is worth your time if you missed the live action. At nearly an hour of coverage, you're getting the full picture of how Day 1 unfolded across the Lancashire links.

Key Takeaways

Watch Ryu closely—she's playing for something bigger than a trophy, and that kind of motivation can be both a blessing and a burden.

Don't sleep on the course—Royal Lytham will have its say before this championship is over, and the weekend conditions could make Thursday look like a warmup.

Stay locked in—this is shaping up to be one of the most memorable Women's Opens in recent memory, and we're just getting started.