​Haelan Ryu fired a 4-under 68 on Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead over Brooke Henderson after three rounds of the Women’s PGA Championship in Chaska, Minnesota. Ina Yoon, who began the day with a five-shot cushion, struggled early but steadied to card a 3-over 75 and sit two behind the leader. Dewi Weber, ranked 210th in the world and chasing her first LPGA win, birdied three of the final four holes for a 4-under 68, placing her three back along with A Lim Kim. Nelly Korda, aiming for an unprecedented third straight major, shot a 1-under 71 on a sunny yet windy day at Hazeltine National Golf Club near Minneapolis, four shots off the lead. Alison Lee joined Korda four back after the day.
Historically, the shift in standings after three rounds has often foretold the winner in the Women’s PGA Championship, with the past 35 winners having led or been within four strokes entering the final round. Korda, the world’s top-ranked player, has struggled on the greens through three rounds, making 7 of 11 putts from 3 to 5 feet and ranking 65th out of 68 remaining players from that distance. She was 19 of 20 from that range when she won the U.S. Open earlier this month. “The greens are pretty slick. They don’t have much grass on them, and short putts are pretty difficult,” Korda said, noting that windy conditions require extra wind-adjusted precision and that she three-putted twice as she battled nerves and lines in her round.
Ryu’s 68 matched the day’s low, one day after she posted Friday’s lowest score with a 64. She opened with four-under through seven holes, including a 28-foot eagle putt on No. 7 and a birdie on No. 9 that barely dropped, before finishing 1 over on the back nine. “It was windier with tougher shots and tougher putts, but I only bogeyed once, which was good for tomorrow. I want more confidence and calm,” Ryu said about pursuing her first major win.
Yoon, who set a tournament record by tying Thursday with a 63 and followed with a 69 on Friday to reach 12 under, started with a bunker shot that led to a bogey and then experienced a rocky front nine with three more bogeys and a birdie before finishing the day stronger with a steady finish. “I had a really long day, especially the front nine. I was nervous and missed some short putts,” she admitted.
Henderson, eager to claim her second Women’s PGA Championship title a decade after her first at Sahalee Country Club in Washington at age 18, felt positive about her position. “It was nice to hit a lot of greens and fairways and give myself several good birdie looks. It would have been great to capitalize a bit more, but I’m happy with where I am and excited for tomorrow.”