Overview
- Lydia Ko shot a bogey-free 12-under 60 on Thursday at Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail course to lead the first round by one over defending champion Hyo Joo Kim, with Nelly Korda close after a 63.
- Ko came within one make of the LPGA’s lone sub-60 mark, missing a short birdie on the par-5 seventh, and reports differ on whether her 60 was the eighth or ninth 60-or-lower round in tour history.
- She credited a rare midweek switch to a Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12 putter for the spark and noted she had never before opened a round with four straight birdies.
- As Ko’s run built, fans and writers faulted the LPGA for no live stream and sparse social updates, and Chief Marketing Officer Chad Coleman publicly acknowledged the lapse and pledged better coverage.
- In Friday’s second round, Nelly Korda posted a 65 to reach 16 under and take a two-shot lead over Kim, while Ko slipped to three back after a 71.