Lydia Ko is the No. 1 woman golfer in the world.
No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn is tailgating her, ready to run her over.
Ko ended the 2016 season in a slump of sorts and fired everyone around her, changed equipment, changed virtually everything.
Jutanugarn ended the 2016 season as Player Of The Year.
The pressure on Ko is ramping up again this week in Thailand — Jutanugarn’s home turf.
Ariya is a folk-hero at home, she carries the hopes of a nation with her. There’s aren’t too many world-wide sports heroes in Thailand.
Jutanugarn didn’t disappoint in the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand event. She took it to six-under par at the Siam Country Club’s Pattayi Old Course, outside Chonburi if you’re interested in travel plans.
Her 66 got her a share of the lead with Amy Yang and put Jutanugarn four ahead of Ko, who shot 70.
The remarkable resurgence of the Americans on the LPGA Tour continued on the other side of the world. Lexi Thompson was but two off the pace with a 68, Ryan O’Toole shot 67, Danielle Kang and Cristie Kerr shot 68s. Good day for the red, white and blue.
In the meantime, Jutanugarn is drawing huge crowds, major support in her homeland.
And her footsteps toward No. 1 are getting louder.
