Nelly Korda, the worldโs top-ranked player, is absolutely on a roll. With a spotless, bogey-free second round of 68, sheโs comfortably perched at the top of the leaderboard with an impressive eight-under-par 136.
This is her first time leading at this stage in her eight appearances here, and it looks like sheโs finally cracked the code. Four birdies, zero bogeysโitโs the kind of golf that makes you want to stand up and applaud, or at least wish you had her swing.
Now, donโt count out the defending champion, Lilia Vu, and Englandโs Charley Hull just yet.
Theyโre three shots back at five-under-par 139. Vuโs the first defending champ to make the cut at the AIG Womenโs Open since Georgia Hall did it in 2019, so sheโs already making history.
Hull gave us a bit of a scare, though. She was three-over-par through 13 holes in her second round, but then she flipped a switch and rattled off three birdies in the last five holes to salvage a level-par 72. Talk about a comeback!
And letโs not forget about the legend, Catriona Matthew. The 2009 champion played her final round in the AIG Womenโs Open, wrapping up her 100th round in this championship with a birdie on the 18th.
Sure, she finished at seven-over-par, but what a way to go outโwith class and a smile.
The cut came in at four-over-par 148, with 82 players making it through to the weekend.
Hereโs something for the trivia buffs: four of the five amateurs in the field made the cut, which is the most weโve seen since 2012 at Royal Liverpool.
Leading the charge is Swedenโs Louise Rydqvist, who carded a bogey-free 67 to sit at three-under-par. Not far behind is Englandโs Lottie Woad at two-under-par.
So, the stage is set. Kordaโs leading, Vu and Hull are lurking, and the amateurs are out to make a name for themselves.
This weekendโs going to be a barnburner, and if youโre not excited yet, well, you might want to check if your TVโs plugged in.
