Sophia Popov shoots 64 to lead Pelican Women’s Championship
Haley Moore tees off on the first hole during the first round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)BELLEAIR, Fla. – Women's British Open winner Sophia Popov left top-ranked playing partner Jin Young Ko and everyone else behind Thursday in the Pelican Women’s Championship. Popov shot a 6-under 64 in windy conditions to take a two-stroke lead over Ashleigh Buhai, with Ko eight shots behind after a 72 in her first LPGA Tour start of the year. Ally McDonald, playing alongside Popov and Ko in an afternoon threesome, was at 67 with Women’s PGA champion Sei Young Kim, the No. U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6, also making her return to the LPGA Tour, had a double bogey and two bogeys in a 73. She last played the Women’s Australian Open in February before the tour began shutting down its Asia swing because of the pandemic.
Sei Young Kim, eyeing 1st major, leads by 2 at Women's PGA
A 10-time LPGA Tour winner, the 27-year-old South Korean has the unwanted title of winningest active player without a major championship. Kim was runner-up at the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and tied for second at the Evian Championship in 2018. Henderson, who won the 2016 Women’s PGA Championship, tied her career-best 18-hole score at a major championship with a 65 to stay within striking distance. Park is a three-time winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and would tie Mickey Wright for the most in a career with a win. “If I knew the answer to how to make clutch putts, I would have won so many more times,” Kim said.
Lincicome, Tan share Women’s PGA lead at windy Aronimink
Lincicome and Kelly Tan each shot 3-under 67 on Thursday in windy conditions at challenging Aronimink to share the lead in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Lincicome, a two-time winner of the major ANA Inspiration eight LPGA Tour victories, played bogey-free to stay even with Tan and keep her first Women’s PGA title in sight. One of the biggest hitters on the tour, she found her groove at 6,577-yard Aronimink, missing only one green. Tan’s previous best finish in a major came in 2016 when she tied for 30th at the Women’s PGA. The 2009 champion, Nordqvist is one of eight Women’s PGA Championship winners in the field that also includes all 11 winners this year on the LPGA tour.
Mirim Lee wins a stunner in a playoff at the ANA Inspiration
Chiu)RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Mirim Lee chipped in three times Sunday, the last one for eagle on the final hole that got her into a three-way playoff at the ANA Inspiration that she won on the first extra hole with a birdie. Her birdie putt missed on the left side. Lee hit 5-wood just over the back of the putting surface, chipped to 5 feet and made the winner. The Canadian took her only lead on the 12th hole when Korda made bogey, and it didn't last long. Henderson's 8-foot birdie putt curled in the left side of the cup on No.
Henderson charges into a share of lead at ANA Inspiration
Brooke M. Henderson watches her tee shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the LPGA's ANA Inspiration golf tournament at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Saturday Sept. 12, 2020. Chiu)RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Brooke Henderson tied a Mission Hills record with a 30 on the front nine and did just enough the rest of the round Saturday for a 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with Nelly Korda in the ANA Inspiration. Henderson started the weekend six shots behind and wanted only to get as close to the lead as possible. She rallied with three birdies on the back nine, however, for a 71 that allowed her to join Henderson at 12-under 204. “Sort of an easy start which was nice, and relaxed a little bit,” Henderson said.
Kang beats desert heat and shares early lead in LPGA major
Kang, who won two straight in Ohio when the LPGA Tour resumed after five months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is projected to take over at No. Early tee times typically are favorable because the greens are smooth and the wind is not as strong. Her sister, Brittany, was among caddies who took advantage of a policy allowing them to drive carts because of the extreme heat. Kang drilled a 5-iron from 191 yards that landed in the middle of the green and rolled toward the pin. A woman sitting on a hill by the green screamed out, “Get in the hole!” Kang had no trouble identifying who it was.