Auston Kim is making waves at the HSBC Women's World Championship, holding a slim one-shot lead as we head into the weekend. This marks just the second time in her career that Kim has been in such a position at an LPGA event, showcasing her growing presence on the tour.
Trailing closely behind Kim are Minjee Lee, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Haeran Ryu, all tied for second place. Kim's performance has been impressive, despite a hiccup on the par-5 16th, where a four-putt led to a double-bogey. However, her 3-under 69 at Sentosa Golf Club has kept her at the forefront, sitting at 9 under.
Reflecting on her approach, Kim shared, "I'm trying to embrace every single moment right now, and every single moment I'm out there competing and playing golf, it's a win and there's only things to gain." Her focus is not just on the game but also on maintaining her energy, especially in the intense Singapore heat. She’s committed to consuming at least 1,000 calories on the course to keep her performance sharp.
Minjee Lee, making her season debut, is riding high after enjoying the longest offseason of her career. A hole-out eagle on the par-4 second set the tone for her impressive round. Lee's game seems as sharp as ever with a new driver in her bag, complementing the long putter that revitalized her career last year.
Hannah Green, a former champion here, surged up the leaderboard with a second-round 66, birdieing the last three holes to sit two shots behind Kim. She's aware of the scoring demands, noting that past winners have typically finished in the middle teens under par.
Meanwhile, Charley Hull, ranked third in the world, overcame a recent health scare to shoot a 67, placing her in a share of 11th. Defending champion Lydia Ko finds herself in 27th, while world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, fresh off a win in Thailand, is tied for 33rd, eight shots off the pace.
As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on Kim to see if she can maintain her lead and secure her first LPGA victory. With a field full of talent nipping at her heels, it's shaping up to be an exciting finish in Singapore.