It won’t be easy, neither due to the disadvantage she will start with this Sunday in New Jersey nor because of the level of her rivals, among whom are some of the best players in the world, but Carlota Ciganda (-10), with a card of 69 strokes in challenging windy conditions, has successfully navigated the moving day at the Mizuho Americas Open and will fight tomorrow for what would be her third victory on the LPGA, the first in almost nine years.
The Spaniard was one of the highlights of the day this Saturday at Liberty National. It happened on the short par four of the 16th hole, where she played a spectacular drive from the tee, shaping her ball to the back of the green, finishing with a tremendous long putt for eagle. With another birdie on the 17th, she showed her tenacity and rejoined the battle for the title after reaching that sensational final stretch of her round at par, with two birdies and two bogeys.
Wait for iiiiiitttttttt…@carlotagolf sinks this putt for eagle 🦅 pic.twitter.com/vwN4sKC0a5
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 10, 2025
With her three under par on the ‘moving day’, the Navarrese is four strokes behind the leader, the Thai Jeeno Thitikul (-14), unstoppable today with 65 strokes despite a double bogey, and three behind Celine Boutier (-13), who shot 66. The defending champion, Nelly Korda (-12), will be another of Carlota’s rivals on Sunday, along with Andrea Lee (-12) and Yealimi Noh (-11). Six stars in double digits with 18 holes ahead.
Unfortunately, Julia López (-8), who played brilliantly in the first two rounds, couldn’t maintain the pace and had to settle for a round of 71 strokes, making it difficult for her to stay in the fight for victory. In any case, she will start from the tied seventh position with a chance to leave the course with views of the New York skyline with a fantastic result in her pocket.
“I don’t even know how I did it, but well,” said Jeeno after her impressive round despite the wind. Boutier, her immediate pursuer, gave the key to surviving in such demanding playing conditions: “If you hit it solid and straight, you can create some opportunities.” That should be Carlota’s goal tomorrow if she wants to reach the final holes of the tournament with a chance to break into the top spots.
