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A bit of greater than a month in the past, Lydia Ko teamed with Jason Day to win the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational, a brand new blended workforce occasion for LPGA and PGA Tour gamers.
However a win this week could be a a lot greater deal for Ko.
The 2022 champion of the CME Group Tour Championship didn’t qualify in 2023 and due to this fact couldn’t defend her title within the season-ender, placing a cap on a most disappointing season, her tenth on the LPGA.
However it seems that GTI win sparked one thing in her sport.
Ko has opened 69-67 at her residence course at Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership within the Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions and can head to the weekend tied for the lead with Ayaka Furue, who shot 65-71.
“I believe Grant Thornton helped lots,” she mentioned Friday afternoon. “We did a number of good work the week earlier than with my coach flying over and spending a while right here at Lake Nona. I believe though you do good work, on the finish of the day you bought to drag it off and make that work if you’re enjoying and enjoying aggressive rounds.
“Despite the fact that it was a novel format at Grant Thornton, I believe it simply was actually helpful week for me to sort of be in positions the place I used to be uncomfortable and nonetheless be capable to decide to my photographs.”
To this point this week she has eight birdies and eagle and simply two bogeys. She had eight straight pars earlier than a closing birdie in Friday’s spherical even because the climate turned a bit bitter.
Ko, who’s dedicated to a extra aggressive schedule this season, has the comforts of residence proper across the nook as she seeks her twentieth profession victory however admits she has to ensure she’s not too comfy.
“I’ve forgotten to set my alarm as soon as and I turned as much as the golf course later than I usually do as a result of I used to be so used to being at residence, sleeping in my very own mattress, so I’m making an attempt to not make that mistake this yr.”
The event additionally incorporates a superstar division, made up of professional golfers, former professional athletes from baseball, basketball and hockey in addition to actors and comedians. Tied atop that leaderboard is Annika Sorenstam and former NHL standout Jeremy Roenick. They every have 75 factors utilizing the Modified Stableford scoring system.
Annika Sorenstam acknowledges the group on the 18th inexperienced through the second spherical of the 2023 Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership in Orlando. (Photograph: Julio Aguilar/Getty Photos)
“The climate in the long run acquired slightly iffy,” Sorenstam mentioned. “I’d say immediately was a very good scramble day. Actually scrambled on the market. Didn’t hit as many good photographs as yesterday. Simply didn’t surrender. Saved on combating. Missed few extra greens. Needed to do some extra chipping immediately. Simply hung in there.”
Roenick sounded greater than happy along with his spherical.
“I performed properly immediately. I believe I shot 69 or 70 immediately, which was superb. Didn’t make any errors. Simply saved it on board,” he mentioned.
Again on the primary leaderboard, Gemma Dryburgh and Gaby Lopez are tied for third after 36 holes. Tied for fifth is defending event champ Brooke Henderson and Alexa Pano, in her second yr on the LPGA.
“I used to be sort of a multitude once I first began as a rookie final yr, and I really feel much more comfy and acquired a very good grasp on issues,” she mentioned. “I labored actually arduous this low season to be prepared for this. I believe that is the enjoyable half. That is attending to see all of it come to fruition.”
Different notables within the area of 35 embrace: Nelly Korda (4 underneath, T-7), Rose Zhang (4 underneath, T-7), world No. 1 Lilia Vu (2 underneath, T-16) and Danielle Kang (T-31, 3 over).
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