Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, hits from the sixth tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Celine Boutier, of France, hits from the fourth tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Nelly Korda hits from the fourth tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Thitikul regains lead at Liberty National with Korda on her heels
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) 鈥 Jeeno Thitikul handled a strong wind and a double bogey at the turn by making nine birdies Saturday for a 7-under 65 that gave her a one-shot lead over Celine Boutier going into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open.
Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, hits from the sixth tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) 鈥 Jeeno Thitikul handled a strong wind and a double bogey at the turn by making nine birdies Saturday for a 7-under 65 that gave her a one-shot lead over Celine Boutier going into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open.
Defending champion Nelly Korda missed a pair of birdie opportunities on the back nine at Liberty National and settled for a 68, leaving her only two shots behind as the No. 1 player in women’s golf goes for her first win of the year.
The LPGA Tour moved up several tees to account for wind strong enough to bend flagsticks, particularly on the closing stretch at Liberty National. That led to some big finishes as players positioned themselves for the final round.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Thitikul, the No. 2 player in women’s golf, was among those who took advantage. She birdied the reachable par-4 16th with water down the right side, picked up another birdie on the 17th and finished at 14-under 202.
鈥淭he strategies for today, I just trying to keep it on the fairway and then on the green,鈥 Thitikul said. 鈥淚 know it鈥檚 going to be a really tough day and then I have to be patient out there. So I don鈥檛 know how I did that, but like I take it.鈥
Boutier rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt over a ridge on the 15th 鈥 that was a bonus 鈥 for the start of three straight birdies. She made par on the 18th for a 66 to leave her one shot behind.
鈥淚t was a nice setup today,鈥 Boutier said. 鈥淚 feel like it was challenging with the wind, but the setup made it possible to have some chances if you were hitting good.鈥
Korda tried to keep pace with Thitikul and rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt from just off the green at the par-3 14th, which runs along the Hudson River across from the Manhattan skyline. But her drive on the 16th left her a bad angle to chip, and she had to settle for par.
With the wind at her back, she judged her wedge perfectly to four feet for birdie at the 17th, and her 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th just stayed on the high side of the hole.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥淵ou just have to dial in to small target and you have to be focused 100 per cent on each shot,鈥 Korda said of the tough conditions, rain Friday and wind on a clear Saturday. 鈥淵ou knew you were going to make mistakes. Had a pretty solid day.鈥
Andrea Lee had her third straight 68 and joined Korda at 12-under 204. Yealimi Noh chipped for eagle on the 16th and shot 67. She was three shots behind.
Thitikul, who opened with a 64, followed with a 73 and then came charging out of the gates in the strongest of the wind. She had four birdies on the front nine until hitting into the hazard in the par-4 sixth and making double bogey.
No matter. She responded with two birdies to erase that mistake, and she had three birdies in four holes to start the back nine and stayed ahead of the pack with her two late birdies.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation