Minjee Lee well in the hunt at Women's PGA Championship
Minjee Lee has overcome more brutal conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in sweltering Texas.
On a day when the average score soared as high as the mercury to almost 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at three under for the championship.
The one-time world No.2 trails Thailand's now-world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul by three shots after the superstar Thai shot to six under with a late flurry.
Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round two-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course.
The 22-year-old one-time world No.1 will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship.
Playing as close to a home game as the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee gets, the Australian offset three bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title of her own.
Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage.
Her late rally left Lee alongside Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a one-under 71 to be tied for second.
The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson.
The American continues to revel since retiring from fulltime professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a a two-under round on Friday morning (Saturday AEST).
Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at one under par.
World No.1 Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at two over after managing only one birdie for the day.
Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at three over and equal 25th.
World No.8 Hannah Green is another stroke back after producing the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-5 13th, in a rollercoaster round of 74 that also featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies and 10 pars.
At five over after a 74-75 start, Karis Davidson also earned a weekend tee time after taking a sabbatical from golf last year to complete an aged and disability care course on the Gold Coast.
At seven over, fellow Australians Gabriela Ruffels (77-74), Hira Naveed (75-76) and Grace Kim (73-78) all survived the cut by a shot.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Minjee Lee poised for Women's PGA Championship push
A relieved Minjee Lee has overcome more brutal conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in sweltering Texas. On a day when the average score soared as high as the mercury to almost 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at three under for the championship. The one-time world No.2 trails Thailand's now-world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul by three shots entering the weekend climax after the superstar Thai shot to six under with a late flurry. Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round two-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course. The 22-year-old one-time world No.1 will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship. "I feel really good," Thitikul said. "To be honest, I just said to my coach if anybody can shoot under par today, that player will be really, really great - and I'm shooting two under." Playing as close to a home game as the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee gets, the Australian offset three early bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title of her own. Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage. "I started a little bit shaky. Turned in two over but I knew there were a few opportunities on the (back) nine to make a couple birdies," she said. "I just tried to stay patient out there. It was really windy and quite hard to even hold the greens on some of them. "So I just tried to stay within myself and just be smart and play to my advantages." Her late rally left Lee level with Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a one-under 71 to be tied for second. The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson. The American continues to revel since retiring from fulltime professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a two-under round on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at one under par. World No.1 Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at two over after managing only one birdie for the day. Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at three over and equal 25th. World No.8 Hannah Green is another stroke back after producing the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-5 13th, in a rollercoaster round of 74 that also featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies and 10 pars. At five over after a 74-75 start, Karis Davidson also earned a weekend tee time after taking a sabbatical from golf last year to complete an aged and disability care course on the Gold Coast. At seven over, fellow Australians Gabriela Ruffels (77-74), Hira Naveed (75-76) and Grace Kim (73-78) all survived the cut by a shot. A relieved Minjee Lee has overcome more brutal conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in sweltering Texas. On a day when the average score soared as high as the mercury to almost 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at three under for the championship. The one-time world No.2 trails Thailand's now-world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul by three shots entering the weekend climax after the superstar Thai shot to six under with a late flurry. Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round two-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course. The 22-year-old one-time world No.1 will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship. "I feel really good," Thitikul said. "To be honest, I just said to my coach if anybody can shoot under par today, that player will be really, really great - and I'm shooting two under." Playing as close to a home game as the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee gets, the Australian offset three early bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title of her own. Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage. "I started a little bit shaky. Turned in two over but I knew there were a few opportunities on the (back) nine to make a couple birdies," she said. "I just tried to stay patient out there. It was really windy and quite hard to even hold the greens on some of them. "So I just tried to stay within myself and just be smart and play to my advantages." Her late rally left Lee level with Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a one-under 71 to be tied for second. The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson. The American continues to revel since retiring from fulltime professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a two-under round on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at one under par. World No.1 Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at two over after managing only one birdie for the day. Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at three over and equal 25th. World No.8 Hannah Green is another stroke back after producing the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-5 13th, in a rollercoaster round of 74 that also featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies and 10 pars. At five over after a 74-75 start, Karis Davidson also earned a weekend tee time after taking a sabbatical from golf last year to complete an aged and disability care course on the Gold Coast. At seven over, fellow Australians Gabriela Ruffels (77-74), Hira Naveed (75-76) and Grace Kim (73-78) all survived the cut by a shot. A relieved Minjee Lee has overcome more brutal conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in sweltering Texas. On a day when the average score soared as high as the mercury to almost 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at three under for the championship. The one-time world No.2 trails Thailand's now-world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul by three shots entering the weekend climax after the superstar Thai shot to six under with a late flurry. Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round two-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course. The 22-year-old one-time world No.1 will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship. "I feel really good," Thitikul said. "To be honest, I just said to my coach if anybody can shoot under par today, that player will be really, really great - and I'm shooting two under." Playing as close to a home game as the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee gets, the Australian offset three early bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title of her own. Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage. "I started a little bit shaky. Turned in two over but I knew there were a few opportunities on the (back) nine to make a couple birdies," she said. "I just tried to stay patient out there. It was really windy and quite hard to even hold the greens on some of them. "So I just tried to stay within myself and just be smart and play to my advantages." Her late rally left Lee level with Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a one-under 71 to be tied for second. The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson. The American continues to revel since retiring from fulltime professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a two-under round on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at one under par. World No.1 Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at two over after managing only one birdie for the day. Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at three over and equal 25th. World No.8 Hannah Green is another stroke back after producing the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-5 13th, in a rollercoaster round of 74 that also featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies and 10 pars. At five over after a 74-75 start, Karis Davidson also earned a weekend tee time after taking a sabbatical from golf last year to complete an aged and disability care course on the Gold Coast. At seven over, fellow Australians Gabriela Ruffels (77-74), Hira Naveed (75-76) and Grace Kim (73-78) all survived the cut by a shot. A relieved Minjee Lee has overcome more brutal conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in sweltering Texas. On a day when the average score soared as high as the mercury to almost 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at three under for the championship. The one-time world No.2 trails Thailand's now-world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul by three shots entering the weekend climax after the superstar Thai shot to six under with a late flurry. Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round two-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course. The 22-year-old one-time world No.1 will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship. "I feel really good," Thitikul said. "To be honest, I just said to my coach if anybody can shoot under par today, that player will be really, really great - and I'm shooting two under." Playing as close to a home game as the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee gets, the Australian offset three early bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title of her own. Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage. "I started a little bit shaky. Turned in two over but I knew there were a few opportunities on the (back) nine to make a couple birdies," she said. "I just tried to stay patient out there. It was really windy and quite hard to even hold the greens on some of them. "So I just tried to stay within myself and just be smart and play to my advantages." Her late rally left Lee level with Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a one-under 71 to be tied for second. The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson. The American continues to revel since retiring from fulltime professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a two-under round on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at one under par. World No.1 Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at two over after managing only one birdie for the day. Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at three over and equal 25th. World No.8 Hannah Green is another stroke back after producing the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-5 13th, in a rollercoaster round of 74 that also featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies and 10 pars. At five over after a 74-75 start, Karis Davidson also earned a weekend tee time after taking a sabbatical from golf last year to complete an aged and disability care course on the Gold Coast. At seven over, fellow Australians Gabriela Ruffels (77-74), Hira Naveed (75-76) and Grace Kim (73-78) all survived the cut by a shot.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Minjee Lee sits equal second in PGA Championships - just three strokes off the leader
Focus and patience that is what Australian golfer Minjee Lee says will be key to her bid to claim a third major title at this weekend's KPMG Women's PGA Championships in Texas. The West Australian sits tied in second after Round 2 – just three strokes off leader Jeeno Thitiku. Lee pulled off a remarkable comeback on the back nine with three birdies and a bogey keeping her in touch with Thailand's Thitiku at the end of the day. She is one of seven Australian's to advance to the third round. Lee, 29, hasn't won a major title since 2022. She said the einner would be the player who best coped with the heat, wind and difficult course. 'It's going to be windy the whole weekend, too, so I think we kind of know what to expect now,' Lee said. 'I think it will be whoever has the best recovery in this heat and also who doesn't make like soft bogeys. 'It's been so hot and it's a really slow round, so you've just got to try and focus as best you can. 'That's the person who is going to, at the end of the week, hold the trophy.' Lee said she got off to a shaky start. She hit ten of 14 fairways, but left herself leaning on her short game often as she hit 11 of 18 greens in regulation. She proved her skills with the putter and a birdie putt from 16 feet at the par-4 second proved a turning point for Lee. Lee had a chance from 18 feet to move within two of Thitikul at the par-5 ninth but left her birdie putt short. 'I felt like I started a little bit shaky,' Lee said. 'Turned in 2-over and I knew there was a few opportunities on the front nine to make a couple birdies. 'I just tried to stay patient out there. It was really windy and quite hard to hold some of the greens. 'I just tried to stay within myself and just be smart and play to my advantages.'
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
Hannah Green eagles, Minjee Lee stays second in Women's PGA Championship second round
Minjee Lee has overcome sweltering conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in Texas. On a day when the average score soared to around 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at 3-under for the championship. Lee trails world number two Jeeno Thitikul by three shots after the Thai star shot to 6-under with a late flurry. Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round 2-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course. The 22-year-old former world number one will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship. Further back in the field, world number eight Hannah Green showed how impressive any sort of consistency on the course was, with a rollercoaster round of 74. Her round featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies, and 10 pars, plus the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-five 13th. Meanwhile, the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee offset three bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title. Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage. Her late rally left Lee alongside Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a 1-under 71 to be tied for second. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson. The American continues to revel since retiring from full-time professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a 2-under second round. Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at 1-under. World number one Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at 2-over after managing only one birdie for the day. Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at 3-over and equal 25th. Green is another stroke back. Karis Davidson (75), Gabriela Ruffels (74), Hira Naveed (76) and Grace Kim (78) all made the cut. AAP
