– Sensational second round of golf at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The wind was fierce at the Field Ranch East PGA Frisco and the day turned into pure survival. Gusts over 45 kilometres per hour. At times, it was even hard to hear the commentators on the broadcast due to the wind blowing into the ambient microphones. It wasn’t easy to play under par, but it was done. Birdies weren’t falling out of pockets, but they were made. A challenge of maximum difficulty, only for the strongest games and minds.
– Jeeno Thitikul (-6) is the main protagonist. For now, she is putting on a show. She is looking like a Major winner, the cherry on top missing from her exceptional record. She has won everything, been World Number One, but has yet to conquer a major. She has set her sights on this one in Texas, although there is still a long way to go. If she maintains the same level shown on Thursday and Friday, she will be unbeatable, but we know that’s very difficult in a Major. If she excelled on the greens on Thursday, today the masterclass was from the tee. She is the only golfer in the tournament, the only one of 156, with an aggregate under par on the par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s of the course. Today she signed four birdies and only two bogeys. She has only three stumbles in 36 holes. She is playing a different game.
– Minjee Lee (-3) is the only one, for now, managing to follow her at a distance, although this Friday she went to bed frustrated after three-putting on the 9th hole (her last hole) having an eagle opportunity from just four and a half metres. Even so, the Australian has picked up the gauntlet, especially, and despite that final stumble, with an outstanding performance on the greens.
– Only seven players remain under par. Less than half of those there were yesterday at the end of the first round. It seems, according to the forecast, with wind and more wind on Saturday and Sunday, that only Thitikul can prevent this tournament from being won under par. The only ones currently beating the course and following in the footsteps of Thitikul and Minjee are: Rio Takeda (-3), Lexi Thompson (-2), Somi Lee (-1), Auston Kim (-1), and Chisato Iwai (-1). Lexi is the only survivor from the other side of the world with slanted eyes.
– Curiously, this Friday, despite the wind blowing stronger than on Thursday, the same number of under-par cards were seen as on Thursday. There were a total of 15. Thitikul and Takeda are the only ones who can boast of beating the course both days. It seems an impossible mission for anyone to finish in the red over all four rounds.
– From the top, beyond those under par, keep an eye on Hye Jin Choi (+1), who fought hard last week to win the tournament against Carlota Ciganda, Maja Stark (+1), US Open champion who thrives in extreme conditions, and of course, Nelly Korda (+2), who, if the putt decides to accompany her, can shoot a very low round.
– As Thitikul is playing, victory has become very complicated for Carlota Ciganda (+3), with a round of 73 today. We could say her chances depend on the Thai player. It’s Jeeno who needs to open the door in the remaining 36 holes. Otherwise, making up nine strokes seems an impossible mission in these circumstances. But you never know. The reality is that Carlota at least has hope. There’s a crack in the window, and she’s willing to sneak through. Today she managed to get to an aggregate of +1, but some short putts that slipped away for birdie in the first part of her round, when she played exceptionally again (from 10 to 18), and other short par putts that slipped away later (from 1 to 9), prevented her from climbing higher in the standings. Even so, she’s in the top 25, with the top 10 three strokes away and having shown she has the tools to shoot two rounds under par over the weekend.
– Julia López (+6) and Azahara Muñoz (+6) have made the cut. Bravo. Julia delivered one of the few under-par rounds made this Friday. She signed 71 strokes, with two birdies and a bogey and exceptional golf from the tee. If she maintains that level with the driver, she can still grow a lot in this KPMG. Meanwhile, Azahara relied on the putter when things were getting tough. She made two exceptional birdies on holes 16 and 17, with two really good putts, crucial for playing over the weekend. At that moment, she was at +7, just at the number needed to play all four rounds. Lots of patience, grit, and experience.
– As always, illustrious names have fallen by the wayside. The trail of victims includes Hyo Joo Kim and Jin Young Ko, who have withdrawn, Mirim Lee, Aditi Ashok, Lauren Coughlin, Chiara Tamburlini, Danielle Kang, Celine Boutier, Ayaka Furue, Albane Valenzuela, Georgia Hall, Madelene Sagstrom, Lilia Vu, Hinako Shibuno, Amy Yang, Linn Grant, A Lim Kim, Alissen Corpuz, Anna Nordqvist, or Emily Pedersen.
– The great comeback of the day was by Charley Hull (+3). The Englishwoman delivered the best card of the day (69 strokes) and even left herself a small chance of victory, although, like Carlota Ciganda, she is in Thitikul’s hands.
