Nelly Korda seems to be again to her dominant finest on the dwelling of golf.
The top-ranked American mastered extra blustery situations at St. Andrews by capturing a bogey-free, 4-under 68 within the second spherical on Friday to take a three-stroke lead on the Women’s British Open.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., missed the reduce after a second spherical of 76 left her at 9 over by two rounds.
Worse for Korda’s rivals is that she is warming to hyperlinks golf, too.
“This year in general, I’ve won on just so many different types of grasses, in different types of conditions, that you just kind of always have to adapt,” mentioned Korda, who was 8-under par for the event. “That’s the same thing in tennis, same thing in life.
“You’re all the time adapting to your conditions at hand, and I believe that is what’s so enjoyable about hyperlinks golf — you are actually beginning it 30 yards left of your goal, and I’m not a fade participant however I’m hitting large fades. I believe it is enjoyable hitting these little low drivers, too. I’m having enjoyable, and I take pleasure in hyperlinks golf lots.”
Korda has played her first two rounds with defending champion Lilia Vu and England’s Charley Hull, a crowd favorite playing in her home major, and the marquee group has lived up to its billing.
Hull, the overnight leader by one stroke after a first-round 67, shot even par and was tied for second place on 5 under with Vu, who shot 70.
They were outplayed by Korda on a day when the wind wasn’t quite as brutal as Day 1, but Hull was bullish heading into the weekend.
“Only three pictures behind — that is nothing going into the weekend, particularly on this golf course,” said the No. 10-ranked Hull, who is seeking her first major title. “I left numerous putts on the market. I believe Nelly had 30 putts and I had 36 putts. So that is six putts that I’ve misplaced to her on the greens.”
Defending champion Yin in the hunt
Ruoning Yin, last year’s Women’s PGA Championship winner from China, shot 72 and was alone in the fourth place on 4 under.
Olympic champion Lydia Ko shot a 70 and was one of six players on 3 under — five strokes off the lead — at the halfway point. In that group was Swedish amateur Louise Rydqvist, who shot 67.
Only 20 players were under par after 36 holes following two windy days at the Old Course. The forecast is for calmer weather over the weekend.
Korda started out a stroke behind Hull, who bogeyed two of her first five holes after the group began at No. 10 and fell further behind when the American rolled in long putts to birdie both Nos. 17 and 18 for the second straight day.
Playing with a new putter, Korda made another birdie at the par-5 fifth hole and then two-putted from the fringe for birdie at No. 9 after nearly driving the green. Vu and Hull also birdied the last hole to stay three shots back and in touch.
Korda looks destined to better her previous best finish at the Women’s British Open — ninth place in 2019. That’s her only top 10 at this major.
“I’m simply making an attempt to remain very current and never take into consideration something apart from one shot at a time,” said Korda, a two-time major winner. “And no matter golf and hyperlinks golf throws at me, I’m going to take it head on.”
