Down to seventh in the world, the 31-year-old American is winless in 50 starts since June 2014.
Advertisement
No more nerves or anxiety whether Park’s injured thumb would hold up, the South Korean star was never more excited to make bogey than on the 18th to finish off the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Thursday – the round that made her eligible for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
The 19-year old Kiwi lies one shot ahead of the field at two under as she aims for a third straight major title. “The way she powers the ball, it’s remarkable”. Piller didn’t start playing golf until she was 15.
Lincicome, a two-time major champion, also dropped a shot at the final hole because of a three-putt. She made an ace, won a auto and leads the field at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
“Playing this event or the U.S. Open, or the British Open, when 5 under par is leading, it kind of mentally seems easier to do, to accomplish, than 20-something under par”, she said. “She’s peaking at the right time”. She’s in the top 10 in greens in regulation, putts per GIR and scoring and is 13th in driving distance at 267.70 yards per whack.
“They have taught me how to be happy before I hit the shot”, Jutanugarn said this week. I really thought that I can play really well this week.
Jessica Korda (72) and Canada’s Brooke Henderson (68) tied for third at 9 under. Those wins marked her first three victories of her career and vaulted her to No. 10 in the world rankings.
Third-ranked Lewis Thompson bogeyed four of her first five holes in a 75.
“I think I get to appreciate it much more because everything that has happened in the last month”. I get nervous, too, out there.
In the 2013 LPGA Thailand at age 17, Jutanugarn blew a two-stroke lead with a closing triple bogey in a one-stroke loss to Park. Yang went out in 32 and was 6 under for her round after a birdie at No. 15, before dropping a shot on the 16th. She played alongside Park.
“This course is exhausting”, Kim said.
Lee hovered at even par on Thursday, but she found her groove Friday with four birdies-including three in a six-hole span on the front nine.
Facing a stiff, flag-flapping wind, she sent a tee shot into the right rough at No. 9.
Just three holes into her round, Brooke Henderson could tell she needed a spark.
Ko said she’d be trying to maintain a relaxed approach on the final day. “It’s attractive to watch”.
“All year this year I have walked up on the practice rounds and said, see that auto, if I get it, it’s yours”, Henderson said of the deal she has with Brittany.
Piller was more erratic with four bogeys on the day. “She sat down on like the 16 tee and 18 tee, sitting, chilling in the shade”.
Henrik Norlander of Sweden had a share of the lead with two holes to play among the final players on the course.
Advertisement
Brittany said Brooke did a better job keeping her composure after the ace than she did.
