Women’s Open 2021 R2
August 19-22
Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Scotland
$5,800,000
Round 1, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Georgia Hall moved firmly into contention for a second AIG Women's Open title after claiming a share of the lead following today's second round at Carnoustie.

Women’s Open 2021 R2

Hall was among the early starters who took advantage of calm conditions over the Angus links to sign for a three-under 69 and a 36-hole total of seven-under-par.

“Every (AIG Women's) Open I want to do the best I can. I think I would have taken 69 at the start of the day, conditions were pretty still and I played pretty good. This is a fantastic golf course, one of the best in the world. There is a lot of golf to play yet but I'm happy where I am”

Women’s Open 2021 R2

Hall, the 2018 champion at Royal Lytham & St Annes, carded six birdies and recovered from a double bogey at the 15th to take the English player to the top alongside American Mina Harigae.

From the third group of the day, Harigae also thrived and closed with four birdies in her last seven holes to sign for a superb five-under-par 67 and to join Hall on seven-under.

Women’s Open 2021 R2

“A couple of times I got lucky with the bounces, skirting a couple of bunkers," said Harigae. "But, overall, I putted really well today so I think that contributed to my really good back nine as well. I'm a much better golfer the last 12 months, I've been playing well. I just feel like I'm in a good place.”

The Californian was runner-up in July's Marathon LPGA Classic and is in form as she seeks a first main tour win and to improve on her best finish in the Championship, a tie for 28 th in 2018.

With joint-overnight leader and world number one Nelly Korda slipping to a one-over-par 73 for a four-under-par total, it's a congested leaderboard going into the weekend.

Women’s Open 2021 R2

Another American player, Lizette Salas, reached six-under-par after back-to-back rounds of 69 and she shares third place with world number four Sei Young Kim, who added a 71 to her opening 67.

Seven players are well-placed at five-under-par, including Ireland's Leona Maguire and the USA's Lexi Thompson.

“I felt like I played really solid," said Maguire. "I spent a lot of time last night working on my putting and my stroke and got off to a really nice start today. It's the most demanding Open course, probably mentally. You have to be fully concentrating on every single shot. You can't really play too defensive either. You have to hit driver on some of the holes and take on fairway bunkers.”

Women’s Open 2021 R2

Amateur Louise Duncan, playing with Hall, continued to cheer the home fans as the Scot, 21, comfortably made the cut on three-under-par and leads the chase for the prestigious Smyth Salver as top amateur – ahead of Lauren Walsh and Annabell Fuller on one-under-par and level par respectively.

“I don't think I could've got any more nervous than yesterday," said Duncan. "I wasn't as nervous today, maybe a wee bit of hand shaking but it was fine. We'll see how the weekend goes as I've nothing really to lose now. Just watching players like Georgia, whatever happens, they don't let it affect them. They just enjoy it and play well, trying to keep flat and steady.”

Megan Khang produced the low round of the week, a brilliant six-under-par 66, to surge through the field and reach one-under-par, making the cut by two shots.

The top 65 and ties progressed to the weekend on one-over-par, with defending champion Sophia Popov among those to miss out on three-over. Dame Laura Davies, 57, can look forward to the final 36 holes after finishing on level par thanks to a fine two-under-par 70, which featured seven birdies.

Women’s Open 2021 R2