“I don’t know what course she is playing right now but I think it’s all about the putting here”, Ko said. “I did, so I’m very proud of myself”.
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Lee, who opened the championship with a record-equalling 62, made an unimpressive start with three bogeys over her first nine but hit back with three straight birdies from the 10th, narrowing the gap to three strokes.
“We both got off to great starts and Ariya played tremendously today”, Matthew said. Im like, Oh, whats wrong with me.
Jutanugarn held a one-stroke lead entering the par-3, 17th hole and then gave herself a cushion by making a key 20-foot birdie putt en route to winning her fourth tournament of the season.
Lee’s round included three birdies and two bogeys – a much different trip around the Marquess’ Course than Thursday’s excursion in which she compiled 10 birdies without a single bogey.
“I had issues with my tee shots”, Lee told reporters after the round. “That was the most important thing”. “I know like what I have to focus and the only thing I have to is like focus on what is under my control”.
Two other former British Open champions, Mo Martin (68) and Stacy Lewis (70), sit three and four shots back respectively.
“It’s definitely a departure from links”, Martin said. Thats all I had.
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand will sleep on the 54-hole lead in a major championship for the first time in her career. Jutanugarn became the first major victor from Thailand.
“I’m really looking forward to it”, Jutanugarn said.
“I’m usually quite a fast player.so it can put me out a little bit”.
Jutanugarn rebounded in a breakthrough May, running off the three straight victories to become the LPGA Tour’s first Thai champion.
Asked about her unusual pre-shot routine of smiling, she said: “I really want to try to feel relaxed and I feel like whatever is going to make me happy is to smile”. I know how to be like patient.
Jutanugarn, who removed the driver from her bag for the week, began the final round with a two stroke lead over South Korean Mirim Lee and it looked set to become a procession after she increased her advantage to six strokes in as many holes.
Jutanugarn is projected to jump from sixth to third in the world ranking Monday.
Exactly one year ago the youngster missed the cut at the women’s major, the 10th successive tournament in which she had failed to qualify for the final two rounds.
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Speaking of the Olympic Games, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew ensured she’d be heading to Rio de Janeiro with a continuation of the good form she has shown in recent months after finishing T5. I cant wait. Im really excited about that..
