Lexi Thompson had little time to enjoy her opening round 67 before heading out for an early tee time on Friday. But the lack of rest did not seem to hurt the 2014 Kraft Nabisco champion as she shot a 4-under 68 to grab an early share of the 36-hole lead at the Women’s British Open.
2017 Women’s British Open: Lexi Thompson cruises into share of the lead at Kingsbarns
A birdie barrage lifts Lexi Thompson into a tie for the lead at the Women’s British Open.
Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
“I didn’t get too much sleep last night with the quick turnaround,” Thompson, who overcame Thursday afternoon’s lousy weather that forced a couple of halts in play, told Golf Channel after a six-birdie back nine. “Just focus on relaxing tonight and get a good night’s rest.”
The day could have gone sidewise for the big-hitting 22-year-old after a sluggish start with two straight bogeys on holes three and four. Once she made the turn, though, Thompson took off, making five straight birdies:
Thompson added another birdie on the par-4 17th to waltz into a tie with England’s Georgia Hall (68-67).
“I just had a little bit of a slow start, but I hit it great the whole day,” Thompson said. “I knew it was a matter of time before I was about to make a few birdies and just got on a roll there.”
With a win and five runner-up finishes in 14 starts this year, as well as achieving the No. 2 spot in the world rankings, Thompson was bound to keep the good times rolling. Having a caddie who knows his way around the Scottish links track certainly has helped.
“His local knowledge has helped me out tremendously,” Thompson said Thursday about Kevin McAlpine, who caddied for four summers at Kingsbarns, is an accomplished amateur golfer in his own right, and has looped for Thompson since March. “I’m very lucky to have him on the bag every week, but especially this week.”
In other action, 18-hole leader Michelle Wie began her second round much as she did her first, with an early bogey after she bladed a chip shot across the green on the par-4 third. The 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion was able to use her second-hole bogey as motivation to fire a women’s course record 64 on Thursday. At 2-over through five, after another bogey on No. 5, though, she seemed out of sorts to start her second round.
Wie’s playing partner, Lydia Ko, needing a strong performance to avoid a second straight missed cut, was idling in neutral with four consecutive pars out of the gate on Friday. At 1-over after five holes, Ko remained two strokes south of the 1-under projected cut line.
Someone who will definitely be gone for the weekend is Ariya Jutanugarn. The world No. 3 made a nine on the par-3 12th to finish her short stint at Kingsbarns with a 77.
