Henderson leads Jutanugarn and Ko in Florida

LPGA Tour

Brooke Henderson still leads at the LPGA’s season-opening Tournament of Champions, but a World No 1 and former World No 1 are hot on her heels.

Henderson started Friday’s second round at Kapalua in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, with a one-shot lead, and ended it with a two-stroke cushion after a bogey-free, four-birdie 67.

“It’s always fun to be in the final group and be in contention,” Henderson said. “It’s what we play for pretty much every single week. It’s nice to be here. It’s only the halfway point, but I still need to make a lot of birdies and keep hitting it to win.”

But it’s the quality of the opposition hot on her heels that should be of some concern to the 21-year-old Canadian, as the cream has clearly risen to the top for the LPGA’s season opener.

Lying just two shots back in a tie for second are Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, the current top-ranked women’s player in the world after a dominant 2018 that saw her scoop ever major award, and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, a former World No 1 who boasts 20 professional victories despite still being only 21 years old.

Jutanugarn ensured she stayed well within touching distance after mixing six birdies and two bogeys in her 67, while Ko had five birdies and two dropped shots in her 68.

“I didn’t expect to finish 4 under today at all because I hit everywhere. I keep missing fairways and greens, and I’m at 4 under,” Jutanugarn said. “I’m going to say my short game helped me a lot today because I keep missing the green — and I’m not missing by two yards, I’m missing by like 10, 15 yards.”

Jutangurn and Ko share second place with former US Women’s Open champion Eun-Hee Ji (69), while fellow South Korean Mirim Lee lies a further shot back.

Sharing sixth place on six under, four back, are American duo Lexi Thompson and Marina Alex, with Nelly Korda, Gaby Lopez and Thidapa Suwannapura following a further stroke adrift.

The stage is set for what should be a fascinating battle between the LPGA’s brightest stars over the weekend.

Ariya Jutanugarn Brooke Henderson LPGA Tour

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