Pairings Unveiled at Royal Lytham — Who Will Rise in R2?

The R&A has released the full Round 2 groupings and tee times for the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham, and the field reshuffles into a dozen new storylines overnight. Royal Lytham's tight fairways and penal rough turn every pairing into a tactical duel; tee times now matter as much as form, because wind and pin-sheet changes will reorder contenders by the back nine.

Leaders have been bundled into high-stakes threesomes and foursomes that promise direct confrontation rather than isolated score-chasing. Big names sit alongside hungry challengers — expect Nelly Korda and Jin Young Ko to bring calculated aggression, while Lydia Ko and Rose Zhang will test the course management that made them majors threats. The groupings favor players who can manufacture pars and seize the par-five opportunities; those who swing free will either soar or collect bogeys in equal measure.

Tee times span the full daylight window, meaning early starters will face fresher greens but potentially calmer wind, while late waves confront an afternoon breeze that will strip strokes quickly. The R&A tournament app and official site host the exhaustive list, but watch the pairings on holes 16–18 where Royal Lytham extracts the day’s true score from nervous wrists. For broadcasters and bettors alike, identify the group with the most contrasting styles — that is where momentum will change hands.

The Guru’s take is simple: the championship will be decided by who converts the par fives and survives the closing stretch, not by one runaway round. My recommendation — watch the mid-afternoon group containing the tournament leaders and place smart, small wagers on players with proven short-game resilience rather than raw length. Expect a late move; the smart money is on a steady closer rather than a blistering starter.