Julia López (-5) and Azahara Muñoz (-7) raise their hands high on the second day of the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass taking place in Arizona. The players from Málaga have delivered two great rounds of 66 strokes and will thus play their first weekend of the year. In fact, for Julia, it’s the first cut made in her short career on the LPGA. Third time’s the charm. A great achievement in a week where she hasn’t had it easy. They are 22 and 37 years old respectively, a decade and a half difference between the two players from Málaga who seem to be passing the baton on the tour.
The reality is that Azahara Muñoz is still fighting hard. There’s still a lot of golf left in the clubs of the player trained at Arizona State University, just a few kilometres from the course where this week’s event is held. Aza finished the first round one stroke below the cut line and on the second day shone brightly with eight birdies and two bogeys. A card of 66 strokes at Whirlwind Golf Club matching her best round in the last ten months. She moves into the top 25 of the tournament.
“The reality is that it was one of those days when everything goes right. Today I hit a lot more fairways and honestly, life is easier that way.” The player from Málaga started on the 10th hole like a bullet. Three birdies in the first four flags launched the Spanish player’s round, which she wouldn’t let slip for a final total of five under par, despite closing the round with a bittersweet finish due to a late bogey.
Alongside Aza, the great Spanish protagonist in Arizona is Julia López. The player from Benahavís has achieved the epic and surpassed the first cut of her career on the LPGA. It’s worth remembering that Julia is only playing the third event of her career on the North American circuit after earning her card through the School. This Friday, she did something truly remarkable with a card of 6 under par.
Let’s remember that Julia recently had appendicitis just a few days ago and had to be hospitalised. She arrived with just enough strength, and after an initial round of 73 strokes, the cut seemed like a pipe dream. Given these circumstances, it also seemed very difficult after the first nine holes this Friday. She was at par overall and four strokes from the target.
At that moment, the fury of the former World Amateur Number One awoke with five birdies on the second nine holes, surpassing the cut even with a stroke to spare. The Spanish player has a lot of grit and never stopped believing in her possibilities, and she can now tick off one of the first learning milestones. She will enjoy her first weekend with the world’s best.
Also joining the field this Saturday is Carlota Ciganda (-4). The player from Navarra had started the round strong and was eyeing the top positions thanks to five birdies on the first nine. She was at eight under par and dreaming of the top spots.
However, from the 11th hole onwards, everything went wrong, and she committed four bogeys in the last holes, finishing the cut on the number and practically asking for the time. A shame. She has 36 holes ahead to try to fly low and achieve her third consecutive top 20.
Who won’t be playing the last two days is Fátima Fernández Cano (-1), who said goodbye early in the tournament. The cut goal is postponed for another week.
The reality is that the tournament is beautiful regarding the top of the leaderboard. Up to the billing. Nelly Korda (-12) has joined the leading pack of the tournament thanks to a round of 65 strokes that propel her up the leaderboard, leaving her just two strokes behind Lilia Vu (-14), the new tournament leader who delivered the best result of the day with 64 strokes. Nelly is already here. The World Number One is trying to defend last year’s crown and will fight with everything in Arizona. She wants to open her account in this 2025. Lilia Vu put on a display with 64 strokes, eight birdies without a mistake, to have a two-stroke advantage heading into moving day.
Alongside Nelly in second place are Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (-12). Jeeno’s consistency continues to impress, as she hasn’t been outside the top twenty since last year’s Open.
Live results of the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass
