JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Defending champion Nelly Korda found her rhythm late in the day on the sprawling, soft Liberty National course. She birdied three of her final five holes, carding a 68, four-under par, and sharing the lead Friday at the Mizuho Americas Open.
The rain and cloud cover made the course, located across the Hudson River from Manhattan, play longer than ever. This became evident on the 9th hole, a par 4.
Both Korda and Jeeno Thitikul had to use fairway woods for their approach on the 429-yard hole.
You just have to focus on everything you’re doing in these conditions, with the intermittent rain, the cold, and the wind. So you have to focus, and that’s what we did very well.
Nelly Korda
Somi Lee, from South Korea, carded seven birdies in a round of 67 strokes, which was hampered by two bogeys towards the end. She joined Andrea Lee (68) and Korda at the top of the leaderboard, with a total of 136 strokes, eight under par.
Korda, the world number 1 with a significant lead, hasn’t won this year yet. However, she was crowned champion of the Mizuho Americas Open last year, securing her sixth victory of the season.
Thitikul, who began the round with a two-stroke lead after a first-round 64, extended her advantage with three birdies in four holes, before her momentum stalled. She made four bogeys the rest of the way, including a long three-putt on the 9th hole, for a total of 73 strokes.
Thitikul, number 2 in the world ranking behind Korda, was in a large group at 137, which included Boutier (71) and Carlota Ciganda of Spain (70).
I thought it would be difficult, but I expected it to be much more difficult. When it arrived, it arrived with force, so it was a bit tough. I think the hardest part was the cold at the end. Definitely, the hands got quite stiff and cold, so it was a bit more difficult.
Boutier
