Australasians well back as Korda takes control at Chevron Championship
Cassie Porter – the best of the four Australians to make the cut – file image courtesy of Australian Golf Media
The nine-strong Australasian contingent has been reduced to just four as the Chevron Championship enters the weekend at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas, but none are anywhere near contention after 36 holes in the LPGA Tour’s opening major of the year.
Just as was the case at the opening men’s major of the year at Augusta National two weeks ago, this week’s event has a six-shot 36-hole leader with world number two, Nelly Korda, clear by that margin over Patty Tavatanakit but, unfortunately, the closest an Australasian is to the lead is 12 shots.
Cassie Porter added a second round of 72 to her opening 70 to be at 2 under and in a share of 22nd place, while Karis Davidson at 1 under, Hannah Green at even par, and Minjee Lee at 2 over are the only survivors of the 2 over par cut.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko was unable to add to her 29th birthday celebrations when missing the cut by one.
Korda, who is in outstanding form already this season with a win and three runner-up finishes in four LPGA Tour starts, unleashed with a closing nine of 31 to move well ahead before Tavatanakit closed the gap with a late birdie in her round of 69.
“I just feel really good,” said Korda. “I mean, I’m just hitting it in the spots that I want to, missing it in the spots that I want to. The communication between Jay and I is really good, where if there is a tucked pin and it’s kind of stupid, I would rather give myself a longer lag putt and give myself the best opportunity for par.
“That’s kind of the way we’ve been playing the past two days, not taking kind of stupid risks. We’re going to go after the ones we can and where we have to play back and miss in the right spots, that’s kind of what I’m doing.
“I think overall everything is really flowing.”
Korda sits high up on the driving stats for length on the LPGA Tour and that is an asset of considerable importance on a golf course which seemingly requires power.
“Length has a big part in that,” she added, referring to her success on the par 5’s this week. “I mean, I’m giving myself good opportunities but at the end of the day, I mean, you still have to drive it into the fairways. Even if you’re long you still have to hit the shots well.
“At the end of the day, I mean, yeah, taking advantage of your length, but still having to hit those really good shots. That’s what I love about major championships. You have to hit really good shots to give yourself a look at birdie or eagle.”
