MIAMI: South Korea’s Kim A-lim heads into the weekend at the LPGA’s season-opening Tournament of Champions in Orlando with a three stroke lead after shooting a 3-under par second round 69 on Friday. After her bogey free opening round 7-under, Kim had to deal with three bogeys in her second round but remained comfortably clear of Sweden’s Linn Grant.

The 29-year-old Kim, the 2020 US Women’s Open winner, said conditions had changed from Thursday’s play. “It was still good but different, the wind was in a different direction, but it was still fun.” she told reporters after her round left her 10-under for the tournament.

Grant put herself in contention with a 5-under 67 helped by an eagle on the par-5 ninth—her final hole. “Very solid today. I feel like yesterday I didn’t have a tough time on the first nine but it’s always kind of odd to come into the first tournament when you’re not playing tournament golf for a while,” said the 25-year-old, whose only win on the LPGA Tour came at the Dana Open in 2023.

“I found something on the back nine that I really liked and just tried to keep that with me today. I know I play my best golf when I keep it simple and not be too aggressive and let the putts do the job for me.” While Grant has just one win on the LPGA circuit, she has six victories on the Ladies European Tour and had top-10 finishes last year in the Women’s British Open and the Women’s PGA Championship. 

American Nelly Korda, who dominated last year’s tour with seven wins, is well poised for the weekend, sharing third after a 67 put her within four shots of Kim. Ireland’s Leona Maguire and Japan’s Rio Takeda were also on 6-under for the tournament. – AFP