Caroline Hedwall knows success. In 2010, the Swede won the NCAA individual championship for Oklahoma State University. In 2011 and 2012, she won five times on the Ladies European Tour. In 2013, she became the first player in Solheim Cup history to win five points in a single match and helped lead Team Europe to its first win on American soil.
But since coming to the LPGA Tour full-time in 2011, Hedwall has not matched the success she enjoyed early in her career. Hampered by various injuries over recent years, she has not seen a top-10 finish since a fifth-place showing at the 2016 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. The last time she held a 36-hole lead? That would be the 2015 Handa Australian Open.
Now tied with Brooke Henderson atop the Marathon Classic leaderboard after two rounds, Hedwall hopes she has finally made it around the proverbial corner.
“I’ve been in this situation, and I mean, it was a long time ago, though,” said Hedwall, who carded five birdies to just one bogey in her 4-under 67 on Friday. “I’m just looking forward to the weekend. This is obviously what you practice and work hard for, to be in contention.”