ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — World No. 1 Nelly Korda shot 4-under 68 Friday to take a three-stroke clubhouse lead during the second round of the Women’s British Open in her quest for a second major title of a dominant year for the American.
Korda was bogey-free around the Old Course on another blustery day at St. Andrews, while picking up birdies at Nos. 17 and 18 for the second straight day and more at the par-5 No. 5 and No. 9 after starting on the 10th.
Korda was 8 under for the tournament.
“I’m just trying to stay very present and not think about anything other than one shot at a time,” Korda said, “and whatever golf and links golf throws at me, I’m going to take it head on.”
England’s Charley Hull, the overnight leader by one stroke after a first-round 67, shot even par and was tied for second place with defending champion Lilia Vu of the United States (70).
Korda, Vu and Hull have been playing together in the opening two rounds and the marquee group has lived up to its billing at the home of golf.
Hull didn’t sound daunted by the task of needing to reel in Korda, who won the Chevron Championship in April for her second major — one of six wins in 2024 that have cemented her as the best player in the women’s game.
“Only three shots behind — that’s nothing going into the weekend, especially on this golf course,” Hull said. “I left a lot of putts out there. I think Nelly had 30 putts and I had 36 putts. So that’s six putts that I’ve lost to her on the greens.”
Ruoning Yin, last year’s Women’s PGA Championship winner, was also on 5 under with Vu and Hull but was out on the course. Yin had one birdie and five pars in her first six holes to build on her opening-round 68.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
