Thitikul Dominates LPGA Tour Championship, building Lead as Korda Rebounds
Naples, FL – Ariya Thitikul is setting the pace at the CME Group Tour Championship, showcasing a remarkable display of scoring prowess at Tiburon Golf Club. after an already notable opening round, the defending champion fired a stunning 9-under 66 on Friday, extending her lead to 14-under 130. This puts notable pressure on the field as they head into the weekend.
Thitikul’s performance was characterized by relentless birdie opportunities, a testament to both her skill and the receptive conditions at Tiburon. She confidently stated,”Better than yesterday for sure. Still not had no complaints with bogey free and then nine birdies. So I’ll take it.”
The Contenders
While Thitikul leads, several players remain within striking distance. Here’s a look at the top of the leaderboard:
* Ariya Thitikul: -14 (130)
* Sei Young Kim: -9 (135) – Kim mounted a strong comeback with six back-nine birdies.
* Somi Lee: -8 (136) – A slower second round after a stellar opening 64.
* Nasa Hataoka: -8 (136)
* Brooke Henderson: Within five shots of the lead.
* Minjee Lee: Also within five shots of the lead.
Miyuu Yamashita, the Women’s British open champion and the only player who can challenge Thitikul for LPGA Player of the Year honors, sits nine shots back.
Korda’s Resurgence
A surprising element of the tournament has been the turnaround of Nelly Korda. after a relatively quiet start to the Tour Championship,Korda found her putting stroke on Friday. She credits a brief practice session for the improvement.
“Honestly, yesterday I went to the putting green for five minutes and I saw some balls actually roll into the hole, wich was nice.And then left,” Korda explained.
This sparked a significant improvement, putting her within five shots of Thitikul.
Thitikul’s Birdie Barrage
Thitikul’s second round was a masterclass in precision and aggressive play.She strung together a remarkable birdie streak, fueled by accurate approaches and confident putting.
* Birdies on the 8th and 9th with 10-foot putts.
* Wedge shot to within inches on the 10th.
* Approach to 5 feet on the challenging 11th hole.
Despite missing a birdie putt on the 18th, her overall performance was extraordinary.
A Low-Scoring Tournament
History suggests that a very low score will be needed to win the CME Group Tour Championship. the past two years have seen winning scores of 22-under and a tournament record of 27-under. Thitikul is aware of this.
“As I always say, all the winners here, the score is like 20-plus something which is really low scoring,” she said.”We just need to make more and more and more.”
What’s at Stake?
The stakes are high at Tiburon. The winner will take home a record $4 million prize – the largest in women’s golf. Beyond the financial reward, the CME Group Tour Championship also determines the LPGA Player of the Year.
With 36 holes remaining, the tournament is poised for a thrilling finish.You can expect continued aggressive play and a relentless pursuit of birdies as players battle for the title and the coveted Player of the Year award.
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