Hannah Green steady, A Lim Kim builds on LPGA lead

A Lim Kim made enough birdies in an up-and-down second round to maintain a cushion between herself and the chasing field at the Tournament of Champions, the LGPA Tour season opener.

Kim shot 69 at Lake Nona for a two-day total of 10-under 134, making six birdies and three bogeys after her bogey-free opening round.

The South Korean won the 2020 US Women's Open and then went winless on the LPGA Tour until last November, when she broke through to win the Lotte Championship.

"When I was came (to the) US everything is uncomfortable because food, language, and then grass, people, everything," Kim said.

"But I don't have a choice. I want to play in LPGA, so just try. More I learn English and more learn grass and more learn everything. I have more time getting better (at) everything."

Her score was good enough for a three-shot lead over Linn Grant (67) and four shots better than world No.1 Nelly Korda, who was even par for the tournament through her first 22 holes but shot six under from there for a 67.

"There is no better tournament than this tournament to kind of come back," said Korda, referring to the pro-am format that includes athletes and celebrities.

"New season, it's more easy-going, playing with someone like Kevin Millar and (Derek) Lowe where you've known them for so long. This is my sixth year playing this event so friendships have formed."

Lowe, a former major league pitcher, also helped out when a fan proposed marriage to Korda.

"D Lowe shut him right down," Korda said. "I didn't say anything and he was like, 'Bud, I think that was a no.' He was like, 'Did I speak out of turn?' I was like, 'No, that was a great answer.'"

Korda is coming off a seven-win season that included her second major championship.

Rio Takeda (68) and Leona Maguire (68) also were four shots back.

Defending champion Lydia Ko, whose four wins in 2024 included an Olympic gold medal and the Women's British Open at St. Andrews, used a new putter in her opening-round 73. She returned last year's putter to the bag on Friday, shot 67 and was six shots back.

"Obviously it's not the putter's fault. It's all the puttee's fault," Ko said. "It's just having a difficult round on the greens to come back to something that I'm familiar with and I know that I've putted well with, was I think a good change for me."

One shot behind Ko in a large group at three under is Australian ace and major winner Hannah Green, who won three tournaments last year.

The world No.6 is tied ninth after making a 71 to go with her 70. Green began with a birdie on the 10th but was cruelled by a bogey on the par-3 fourth which was followed by a double bogey immediately after.

But the Western Australian then steadied to make birdies on the 18th, second and sixth to remain in the top 10, seven behind leader Kim.

One behind Green is compatriot Minjee Lee, who improved on her opening 72 with a 70.

Lee had three birdies and a bogey and is tied 15th.

With Reuters