Somi Lee Shocks at the CME Group Tour Championship with a New Grip and Solid Leadership
Naples, Florida – Somi Lee had a spectacular Thursday at the CME Group Tour Championship, changing her putting grip, which gave her surprising results. The South Korean golfer started with an impressive round of 8 under par, achieving a 64, which gave her a two-stroke lead in the quest for a $4 million prize. Lee began to distance herself from her competitors by choosing a 5-iron due to the warm conditions, which allowed her to secure an eagle on the 17th hole, a par 5. Her only mistake was a bogey on the final hole of the Tiburon Golf Club. Despite this, she maintained a two-stroke lead over former U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz. Jeeno Thitikul, world number 1 and favorite for LPGA Player of the Year, achieved six birdies in her round of 67, tied with three other players. Thitikul, who won the Tour Championship last year, will win the Player of the Year award, based on points, unless Miyu Yamashita of Japan wins this tournament. Yamashita, with two victories this year, including the Women’s Open, was held back by two bogeys and opened with a 70. Nelly Korda, seeking to avoid a winless year after seven titles the previous year, missed a 3-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, in a round of 71. Lee joined the 29 players who won this year on the LPGA, teaming up with Jin Hee Im at the Dow Championship. She finished 14th in the Race to CME Globe, a solid year, but felt her putting game was holding her back. It was then that she looked at Lydia Ko, the most recent inductee into the LPGA Hall of Fame.He tested it last week, made some adjustments, and shined at the Tour Championship, with only 27 putts in the round. The top 60 players reached the season finale, and the Race to CME Globe rankings are no longer relevant. The tournament winner will take home $4 million, the richest prize in women’s golf, from a total of $11 million.I just followed Lydia Ko’s putting grip because she’s a good player and I thought, “Why not follow a good player’s grip?” It worked really well,” Lee said.
Somi Lee
Thitikul tied for third with Im, Nasa Hataoka and Sei-young Kim. A couple of major champions, Grace Kim (Evian Championship) and Minjee Lee (Women’s PGA) were in the group with 68.I know we’re playing for a $4 million check, but for me I think it’s almost a bonus in this kind of year to be able to play here,” Thitikul said. “I’ve had a very good run during the year, there’s not much to think about.”
Jeeno Thitikul
