
Jeeno Thitikul extends Women’s PGA lead and semi-retired Lexi Thompson contending for another major
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Semi-retired Lexi Thompson is going into the weekend contending for her first major title in more than a decade, and in a dwindling group of players under par at the KMPG Women’s PGA Championship while Jeeno Thitikul extended her lead.
Thitikul, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, finished a six-hour round Friday not long before sunset with consecutive birdies for a 2-under 70 to get to 6-under 138. She had a three-stroke lead over Rio Takeda (71) and Minjee Lee (72), and was four ahead of Thompson (70) after another steamy day on the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco.
“To be honest, didn’t (think) it’s going to be that good result out there,” said Thitikul, the 22-year-old seeking her first major win. “Especially today just said to my coach, `Like if anybody can shoot under par today, that player will be really, really great.’ I’m shooting 2-under par and I was like, `Wow!”
With the feel-like temperatures going over 100 degrees and the ever-present Texas wind, only seven of the 156 players who started the season’s third major were under par through two rounds. There have been no bogey-free rounds this week.