Park and Lindberg Lead, Set New 36-Hole Tournament Scoring Record
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Last week, Sung Hyun Park missed the first cut of her career on the LPGA Tour. This week, she’s tied for the lead in a major championship. The 2017 Rookie and co-Player of the Year posted an 8-under par, 64 on Friday at the ANA Inspiration to leap to the top of the leaderboard and into a share of the lead with first round leader, Pernilla Lindberg. The pair set a new 36-hole Tournament scoring record at 12-under par. The previous record of 11-under par was set by Lorena Ochoa in 2006. Park and Lindberg separated themselves from the field heading into the weekend with a three-stroke cushion ahead of Jessica Korda at 9-under par.
“Today, the shots were awesome,” Park said through a translator. “I just felt really good about my driver. The shots fell in just as I wanted them to. Even though there were a couple things that I missed, but overall just had a great round.”
Expectations have been high for the Korean given all she achieved in 2017. In comparison to last season, Park has had a slower start to this year. She’s yet to post a top-10 and at last week’s Kia Classic she opened with rounds of 72-74 to finish two-strokes outside the cut line. But Park made the most of the extra time she earned by not playing the weekend in Carlsbad and did exactly what she needed to. Practice. It’s something she does alone, she doesn’t work with an instructor, and enjoys the time trying to figure it all out on her own.
“I love being on my own,” Park said. “It's my own game, so anytime I need to fix something, I'm going to feel that. It's really served me well to work on my own.”
Lindberg followed up an impressive opening round 7-under par, 65 with a 67 on Friday to keep pace with Park. She’s bogey-free for the week. Like Park, Lindberg credits some extra time working on her game for the success she’s found this week. After missing the cut two weeks ago at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, Lindberg reconnected with her coach from back home in Sweden.
“I had just gotten a little off in my set-up which was causing me being a little off plane in my swing,” said Lindberg. “Just getting comfortable, back to a better set-up, and that kind of just put everything in place. But still a work in progress. Every day I go out and hit a few shots on the range just doing a couple drills to make sure I'm staying on track there.”
Lindberg is navigating unfamiliar territory this week. The 2010 rookie had never led a major tournament prior to this week and is looking to win for the first time on Tour. Park, on the other hand, won twice in her first year on Tour, including the U.S. Women’s Open. In addition to playing for her second major title on Sunday, the world No. 4 has an opportunity reach No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings. She could do so with a win or second place finish and world No. 2 Lexi Thompson would need to finish in a tie for seventh with three other players, or worse. No. 3 So Yeon Ryu would need to finish third or worse.
Wie and Thompson Battle Back
For the second consecutive day, playing partners Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson, made moves in opposite directions on the leaderboard. Thursday, Thompson surged into contention with a 4-under par, 68 while Wie carded a 3-over par, 75 as she dealt with dizziness caused by a viral, inner ear infection. The roles were reversed on Friday as Wie rebounded with a 5-under par, 67 to move to 2-under par for the championship.
“I just definitely was not feeling that great,” Wie said after Friday’s round. “I just talked to the doctor last night, and he said it's definitely some kind of ear virus thing, and definitely having a little bit of vertigo going. Feeling a lot better today than I did yesterday, just definitely have a lot less energy.”
Thompson, who began the day just three strokes back of the lead, had a rollercoaster day with four bogeys and four birdies to put her right back where she started by day’s end with an Even par, 72.
“I hit it really well today. I just struggled on the greens,” said Thompson, who had 33 putts on Friday. “I missed a good amount of putts, shorter putts too. Felt a little uncomfortable today on the greens, but I'm going to get a little practice in and hopefully get it by the weekend.”
Thompson sits eight strokes of the lead heading into the weekend at the season’s first major championship. She’s come from behind to win in two of her nine victories on the LPGA Tour. The largest final round deficit she’s overcome to win was four strokes at the 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic.
Heading Home
Several major championships missed the cut at the season’s first major. The cut line fell at one-over par, sending home two-time ANA Inspiration champion, Brittany Lincicome. 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Champion Danielle Kang finished one-stroke outside the cut line with rounds 75 - 71. Other notables to miss the cut include 2016 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Brittany Lang, 2014 Ricoh Women’s British Open Champion Mo Martin, and 7-time major champion Juli Inkster.
Sydnee Michaels, in her just her third start since returning from maternity leave, made an ace at the par 3, 17th from 175 yards with a 6-iron. The hole-in-one lifted Michaels to 4-over par for the championship but remained outside the cut line.
Highlights From Sung Hyun Park's Second Round, 8-under par, 64
)
)
)
)
