Ryu eyes third major with three stroke lead

LPGA Tour

So Yeon Ryu broke away from the leading pack at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, to put herself on course for a third major title.

It was tight at the top of the leaderboard for each of the opening two days at Kemper Lakes, but Ryu produced a flourish on the final holes of her third round to create a three shot advantage.

Birdies on 14 and 15 saw the South Korean create daylight with Canada’s Brooke Henderson and she then increased her lead with a birdie on the last in a five under 67.

It moved Ryu to 11 under overall, as the 28-year-old looks to add the KPMG title to previous wins at the US Open and ANA Inspiration.

“Winning this tournament is going to be huge because I never really dreamed about becoming a Grand Slammer,” she said.

“But after I won the ANA Inspiration, I started to dream about becoming a Grand Slammer. For that, I need to definitely win this tournament, and right now, I’m in pretty good position to achieve another dream so I really want to make it.”

Former KPMG champion Henderson set the pace for most of the day and held a two-shot advantage at one stage, but then bogeys on 14 and 16 – coupled with birdies for Ryu – saw the top of the leaderboard change dramatically.

Henderson said: “I kind of struggled a little bit with my putter, which is disappointing, but I think just kind of get better in my head and just go out tomorrow and make a lot of good shots and see if I can make some birdies. And hopefully, they roll in.”

Sung Hyun Park lies in third at seven under, while Angel Yin is a shot further back after a 68.

So Yeon Ryu

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