Jiyai Shin Times Charge as She Aims For a Third Women’s Open Title 2024

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On a day where the wind blew, it wasn’t the course that was being blown apart, as moving day at the Women’s Open truly lived up to its name. 

With many expecting world number one, Nelly Korda to exert even more pressure and extend her lead at the top, the American had a day to forget as she tumbled out of the lead. 

Seemingly struggling with both the pressure of leading and the conditions, Korda’s worst round of the week left the door open. With many wondering who would take advantage, it was the former two time winner of this tournament, Jiyai Shin who grabbed a hold of the tournament and would end the day leading by one stroke. 

With a host of challengers behind her, today’s final round looks set to go down to the wire and anybody who finds themselves within five shots of the lead will harbour serious hopes of making a challenge today. With plenty to play for, here are the day's main talking points.

Shin Shows That She is Right at Home at The Home of Golf

Heading into the week flying under the radar, Jiyai Shin offered the golfing world a timely reminder of just what a good player she is and how formidable she can be at this tournament as she produced one of the best rounds of her career to end the day leading the Women’s Open.

Starting the third round six shots behind Nelly Korda, Shin worked her way back into contention following a blistering front nine which saw her pick up four shots. Making the turn trailing by just two, another birdie would follow on the twelfth before she would end her round in style by finding another birdie on the infamously tough 17th. 

Posting a brilliant 67 where the winds and conditions were tough ranks easily as one of the best rounds of the week. Back in the clubhouse on -7, she would set a target that nobody else would be able to match. 

Shin Shows That She is Right at Home


Korda and Hull Drop Back, Will Need to Chase Today 

It’s been a funny sort of year for Nelly Korda, so dominant at the start when she won six tournaments in seven starts, in recent months she has struggled for consistency and has missed the cut in three of her last four tournaments. 

Through the first two rounds, there were signs that her old form was returning as she looked in complete control of her swing and she was handling the conditions with aplomb. 

However, a few of her recent gremlins returned yesterday and a disastrous back nine would see her drop out of the lead. Some poor putts would prove to be costly, however as she headed up the eighteenth staring down a four shot deficit, she was able to take some positive momentum into today with a birdie. 

She will start today three shots behind and although she certainly isn’t out of it, she will need to rediscover her best form if she is to win yet another title. 

Charley Hull was up and around the lead through the first two rounds, but much like Korda, the Englishwoman really struggled on the greens yesterday. A costly double bogey on her fifth hole, left her with plenty of work to do and she was never able to recover. 

Unable to make a string of birdie putts, Hull’s frustrating round would be compounded with three further dropped shots. Finding herself six shots off the pace, she was able to find a much needed birdie and she will start today five back. 

Yet to win a major, it is unlikely that she will change that today, however with her power likely to prove an asset today, her chances can’t be fully dismissed. 

Vu Remains on Track to Defend Her Title From Last Year 

Heading into the week as the defending champion, Lillia Vu will start as Jiyai Shin’s nearest challenger. The world number two has been slow and steady this week and despite the blustery conditions she had only dropped three shots through her first 36 holes and once again yesterday she was at her consistent best.

Her front nine contained two birdies and one dropped shot and she equalled that on the back nine, where three bogeys were coupled with three birdies. 

Vu’s gutsy 71 was exactly what she needed to stay in the mix and with her consistent golf set to be a real asset in today's tough conditions, she will start today’s round as many people’s favourite. 

Vu Remains on Track


Lydia Ko Could be The Day’s Value Angle

Starting the week as golf’s most recent Hall of Fame inductee, many felt that Lydia Ko could be a major force around St Andrew’s and through the first three rounds that has proved to be correct. 

Currently sitting in a tie for fourth, Ko is just three shots off the lead and will fancy her chances today. Able to record a 71 yesterday, Ko was consistent and her ability to scramble and shape the ball both ways was a huge asset in the tough conditions. 

With much of the same forecast for today, Ko could be the best value pick of the day and won’t have any fears over the three shot deficit she currently faces. Ko knows what it takes to win tournaments like this and she will hope to put all of her winning experience to good use today. 

Women’s Open Final Round Betting 

A whole host of players will fancy their chances of ending the day basking in major glory. With the conditions set to be difficult, the player that makes the fewest mistakes will be the one that ends the day on top. 

If you fancy placing a bet before the leaders tee off, here is how the top ten in the betting currently looks. 

Jiyai Shin - 5/2

Lillia Vu - 13/5

Nelly Korda - 3/1

Lydia Ko - 9/1

Jenny Shin - 16/1

Atthaya Thitikul - 22/1

Ruoning Yin - 28/1

Jin Hee Im - 40/1

Charley Hull - 45/1

Esther Henseleit - 55/1