Lydia Ko (-12) has put on the favourite’s jacket this Saturday for the victory at the Blue Bay LPGA. The New Zealand golfer has handed in a card of 66 strokes on the third day and has positioned herself in first place, tied with Bailey Tardy (-12) and Sarah Schmelzel (-12). Two Americans versus the best golfer of the year on the LPGA. A beautiful Sunday battle awaits us at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course in China.
Ko is the most in-form golfer of 2024 because the results say so. She won the LPGA champions tournament, came second in Florida, had a transition week in Singapore and is now back in the fight for victory, sneaking into the star match of the tournament. Moreover, a victory would give her access at only 26 years old to the Hall of Fame of women’s golf, an imposing achievement. She would be the youngest to achieve it. The access system to the Hall of Fame is by points. One point is added for each victory in a regular tournament and two for each Major. Ko has 26 points and 27 are needed to be chosen. She has it there.
Lydia has forged her great moving day with a magnificent start to the round. In the first three holes she was already three under par, with a birdie and an eagle. A preview, a warning of what was coming. In eight holes she was already five under par for the day and had caught up with the lead. From there, it was all about swimming and keeping her clothes. A bogey and two birdies in the second nine and first position to the bag.
Everything points to the victory being a three-way thing, but we should not completely rule out Ruixin Liu (-10), a consistent golfer like few others, winner at the Epson and who will have the favour of the public tomorrow, or Minjee Lee (-9), who is not showing her best version, but who on Thursday already showed what she can do by matching the course record with 65 strokes.
On the other hand, the pursuit of the world’s Number One by Celine Boutier (-4) is in Chinese. The Frenchwoman, who today has signed a very good round of 68 strokes, is still eight from the third place alone, a minimum requirement necessary to overtake Lilia Vu. Let’s remember that Vu withdrew before going out to play the second round.
Finally, the Spanish Azahara Muñoz (+4) has not had her best day of golf. She started the round very well, with two birdies on holes 2 and 4, but the second nine choked her. She made 41 strokes from 10 to 18 and finished with a card of 75 strokes. She is not comfortable with the long game this week and, in addition, the putter has not accompanied her today.
