New York (AFP) – World number two Jeeno Thitikul defied difficult, windy conditions to card nine birdies, offsetting a mid-round double-bogey and regaining the lead in the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National on Saturday. “I don’t know how crazy I am playing out there with this strongest wind ever,” said the Thai star, whose seven-under 65 gave her a 54-hole total of 14-under 202 and a one-stroke lead over France’s Celine Boutier. Boutier’s seven birdies included three in a row at 15, 16 and 17 in a six-under 66 for 203.
Jeeno, who led by two after Thursday’s first round but had slipped one off the lead on Friday, said her only strategy in the blustery weather was “just trying to keep it on the fairway and on the green.” “I knew it’s going to be a really tough day and I have to be patient out there,” added Jeeno, who claimed the most recent of her four LPGA titles at the Tour Championship last year. “So I don’t know how I did that, but I take it!”
Related news
As on Thursday, Jeeno starred on the greens, needing just 25 putts. She took a week off after the Chevron Championship, where she felt poor putting doomed her bid for a first major title and with the frustration she felt “burnout with the putting.” She said work at home had confirmed her putting stroke was in order, and some work on her speed and a step back from the stress has paid dividends this week.
Boutier was also solid on the greens needing 26 putts compared to 31 in Friday’s rainy second round. “I made a few really long putts today and yesterday, which normally doesn’t happen that much,” Boutier said. “So I feel like that helped me out quite a bit.” She, too, said patience was key in the strong winds. The conditions are expected to be more favorable on Sunday, but Boutier said that would bring a different challenge.
“I’m assuming scores are going to be kind of low,” said the French player, whose six LPGA titles include her home major, the Evian Championship, in 2023. “We’ll see what happens, but happy to be in this position.”
World number one and defending champion Nelly Korda, who seized a share of the halfway lead, shook off an opening bogey to post five birdies in a four-under 68 that left her tied for third with Andra Lee, one of her overnight co-leaders who had six birdies and two bogeys in her 68. Korda won seven times last year but has yet to claim a title in 2025. She, too, said patience was key on Saturday, noting that caddie Jason McDede said as she headed to the putting green before the round, “today, the word is acceptance.”
“So you knew that you were going to make some mistakes,” she said. “I made one on the first hole, but I bounced back pretty quickly and had a pretty solid day.”
© 2024 AFP
