NAPLES (Fla.) – Leona Maguire’s path to the LPGA was very different from Lydia Ko’s. She was a dominant figure in the women’s amateur scene and a strong performer at Duke. In Argentina, the World Amateur Team Championship was held 12 years ago.
Maguire said, “She was a phenomenal player when she was getting ready to go pro.” Maguire said, “I still remember her incredible short game.” A wedge shot didn’t go outside 3, 4 feet.”
Ko is still a marvel to players, who at 25 are enjoying a remarkable career revival. Ko is now leading the field at the CME Group Tour Championship by five after a second-round score of 66. This victory would secure her first LPGA Player Of The Year award since 2015. It also comes with a $2,000,000 payday.
Ko stated that she wanted to end the season without regrets and play freely.
Ko said, “I think when my mind is free.” He added that he wasn’t being tentative. I control how the shot will go. It’s a little less stressful that way.
“If it’s not there, then I’m going missing one. It’s just a better spot for me to be. It is obviously harder when nerves kick in. But I think that when I was struggling I became more tentative and tried to control the ball to make it work.
Although she hasn’t mathematically won the Vare Trophy, it’s essentially a done deal. To climb to No. She would have to win again and Nelly Korda have to finish solo 21st, or worse, in order to be No. 1 in the world. Ko was the youngest player to reach No. Ko was 17 years old when he became the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the world, male or female.
Korda is in third place with Anna Nordqvist and Gemma Dryburgh. Hyo Joo Kim is the sole second place at 8 under. Maguire is a first-time champion this season and is 6 under with Amy Yang6.
Top-ranked Korda is wearing her signature line with J.Lindeberg, and made four birdies on nine, before parring the final nine holes after the putter ran dry.
Korda, last week’s Pelican Championship winner, said that they’ve used a lot Sunday pins.
“I would guess 16, 17 they put them in the back right over a bunker. You can get on one those ridges and it can break either direction, but it happens that sometimes you don’t roll the in.
Nelly Korda smiles on the 18th fairway of Tiburon Golf Club’s second round CME Group Tour Championship on November 18, 2022 in Naples. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images).
Ko is a two-time tour winner and 2014 CME champion. She leads the LPGA in strokes per round and strokes gained while putting this season. She had made 201 10 foot or more putts this season, eight more than any other participant on tour.
Ko is the top player in putts per round in relegation, with a 1.72 average. The same thing happened in 2016 (1.71).
Ko said, “I think my short game improved during times when it wasn’t as good.” It’s both good and bad, but it doesn’t make me feel like the greatest putter in the world. There is always room for improvement.
Minjee Lee is one point behind Ko in the POY race. To shoot 68, the Aussie birdied the final hole. In a 10th place share, she’s 5 under.
Ko was 26 years old when he arrived at the CME, compared to Lee’s 24 year-old.
