Ryu Hae-ran, who has shown formidable momentum since the start of the 2026 LPGA Tour season, is positioned to chase a come-from-behind victory at the HSBC Women's World Championship, the third tournament of the season with a $3 million purse.
In the third round held at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore (par 72) on the 28th, Ryu carded a 2-under-par 70 with six birdies, two bogeys, and one double bogey. With a cumulative score of 10-under-par 206, she moved into a tie for third place alongside Angel Yin of the United States. She trails co-leaders Minjee Lee and Hannah Green of Australia by just one stroke at 11-under, making a final-round comeback victory well within reach.
Since debuting on the LPGA Tour in 2023 and capturing Rookie of the Year honors, Ryu has won one tournament each year for a career total of three victories. She won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in September of her rookie year, followed by the FM Championship in August 2024 and the Black Desert Championship in May of last year. A victory this week would extend her winning streak to four consecutive seasons. Her recent form has been strong, with a tied-ninth finish at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and a tied-tenth at last week's Honda LPGA Thailand.
Korean players have dominated this tournament throughout its history. Since its inception in 2008 through last year, Korean players have claimed the trophy in eight of 17 editions—nearly half. Over the past 10 tournaments from 2015 to last year, Korean players have won seven times, establishing the event as a Korean stronghold. Should Ryu complete her comeback victory, it would mark the first Korean winner since Ko Jin-young in 2023.
Ryu made one birdie and one bogey on the front nine to sit at 1-under for the day, but bogeyed the par-4 10th hole immediately after making the turn. She recovered quickly with a birdie on the par-4 11th, then caught fire with three consecutive birdies from holes 13 through 15 to briefly take the solo lead. However, a double bogey on the par-3 17th left her one shot behind heading into the final round.
"The score was good, but the content of my game went between heaven and hell today," Ryu said after her round. "I'm thankful I didn't make a double bogey on the final day of the tournament, and tomorrow I'll approach my game more calmly. I think being one shot ahead sometimes creates more pressure. I'll try to come from behind from one shot back."
Korean-American Auston Kim, who had held the solo lead at the halfway point, dropped one shot to fall into a tie for sixth at 8-under alongside Linn Grant of Sweden. Hwang Yu-min sits tied for 15th at 5-under, while Kim Sei-young, Kim Hyo-joo, and Choi Hye-jin are tied for 31st at 2-under. Yoon I-na managed only one stroke improvement to sit tied for 45th at even par, while Kim A-rim remains tied for 49th at 1-over.