Five-time Ladies European Tour winner Emily Kristine Pedersen played her way into the top five on Saturday at the Honda LPGA Thailand, firing a 7-under 65 to jump from a tie for 24th into a tie for third with 18 holes to play at Siam Country Club’s Old Course.
After carding rounds of 69 and 70 on Thursday and Friday, the Dane got the party started early in the third round in Chonburi, Thailand, grabbing a birdie on the par-5 1st hole to get to 6-under overall. She gave that shot back with a bogey on the second hole, but after settling herself with pars on Nos. 3 and 4, Pedersen rattled off three straight birdies on holes five, six and seven, quickly moving to 8-under overall.
She made one last birdie on the par-4 9th hole to turn in 32, immediately snagging another birdie on the par-5 10th hole to get to 10-under. Pedersen then parred holes 11 and 12 before picking up a pair of back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14 to sit at 12-under with four holes to play. She ultimately parred in, posting her first round of 65 or better on the LPGA Tour since she opened with a 63 at the 2023 ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican last November.
“I’m happy,” said Pedersen. “I was struggling with my irons for a little bit after the second round, but my coach and I talked a little bit about what to go and feel on the range after, and I felt like I did that well. I committed to trying that swing out there today, and it paid off, so that was nice. I hit a few bad drives to start with that got me in a little bit of trouble. But then it started to click. I got more and more confident to just swing it.”
Pedersen is making her fourth appearance in the Honda LPGA Thailand this week, and after recording a new career-low round in the event on Saturday, she is primed to improve upon her tournament-best result of T17 on Sunday in Chonburi. The 27-year-old will also be working to track down 54-hole leader Patty Tavatanakit in the final round, of whom she is currently sitting four shots back, as she tries to become the season’s first Rolex First-Time Winner and the second player from Denmark ever to win on the LPGA Tour, alongside 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand champion Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
With all of that on the line, it’s completely understandable that Pedersen might be feeling some pressure heading into the final round, especially with a four-shot deficit to make up. But she’s been putting a premium on keeping her mental game in check this year, particularly leaning on recent advice she’s gotten from her fellow Dane and 15-time DP World Tour winner Thomas Bjørn as she works through some of the psychological challenges that have kept her from LPGA Tour success in the past.
“It's always nice to hear from someone that's been in this situation, and you can learn from their mistakes. I can obviously learn from my own mistakes as well,” said Pedersen, who has only recorded two top-10 finishes since becoming an LPGA Tour member in 2017. “I think it just hits me a little bit more when it's from someone that's actually been in the same position, and I'm just grateful that he wants to share whatever he's been going through in his career and wants to help.
“We've talked a lot about the mental side of my game and being too hard on myself and looking like I've given up even though I'm not. I'm trying to work on keeping a good attitude and being my best friend out there instead of knocking myself down.”
Considering that she’s currently sitting within five of the lead for the ninth time in her LPGA Tour career this early in the 2024 season, that work seems to be paying off thus far for Pedersen. And with another Sunday in contention on tap and her confidence bolstered by a third-round 65, Pedersen knows that she is more than capable of chasing down Tavatanakit. She just has to keep pushing.
“I want to keep the foot on the gas,” said Pedersen. “I played with (Patty) on Sunday in that final round in Saudi (last week), and she just played unbelievable that day, but I do believe I can play like that myself, and hopefully, I can do that tomorrow. There are still a lot of holes and so many birdie opportunities out there for everyone. I'm just trying to put my foot on the pedal as much as I can and make as many birdies as I can because I know that everyone else will.”
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