Nelly Korda is on a five-game winning streak, but luckily someone will have to win because Korda won’t be in the field for the rest of this week’s LPGA.
Korda, who is ranked top in the world, won last week’s Chevron Championship, but decided to withdraw from this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship to rest and reset after winning his second major title.
So Grace Kim, a 23-year-old from Sydney, Australia, made the most of Korda’s absence. She started Thursday with a 7-under 64 and shot a 5-under 66 on Friday to take a four-shot lead at 12 under.
Starting from the 10th tee, she gave up one shot on the par-3 12th, but bounced back strongly with an eagle on the par-45 13th.
“[Hit my drive] I went a little to the left of the fairway and hit a shot with the ball above my feet and hit the 5-wood,” Kim said of playing the 13th hole.
“I think I started on the outside right of the green and, yeah, I pulled it out to 10 feet and yeah, I just dropped the putt.”
Another birdie followed on the par-4 14th hole, and before she knew it, Kim had a commanding lead at 9 under.
“I think the less you think about it, the better,” Kim said of her second-round success.
“Of course, there are poana leaves, so you have to be patient. You can kind of see how bumpy it’s going to be, so it’s about adjusting to the course and not getting too caught up in not getting a putt.”
Kim didn’t struggle too much on the uneven greens, making three more birdies on the front nine to move up to 12 under par.
She is halfway to winning her second LPGA title and holds a four-shot lead heading into Saturday’s third round. Kim won the Lotte Championship held in Hawaii in April 2023.
When asked what she needed to do on Saturday, Kim said, “I think I need to take a little breather.”
“I was a little nervous on the back nine, so I guess I’ll just have to maintain my current level and not worry too much.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
