Singapore Slings for everyone!
Danielle Kang gave American golf fans cause to celebrate Friday when she tied the course record with a sizzling 64 at the Sentosa Golf Club.
The 25-year-old from Las Vegas has a hefty four shot lead, she’s 12-under par at the midway point of the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Kang, who found out she had a broken tooth before her opening round, had a perfect bogey-free round on day two to go with her opening 68. She’s now gone 36 holes without a single bogey.
“The game is coming easy right now,” said the 2017 Women’s PGA Champions. “I’m more focused on being present and just hitting the shots. I’m hitting it well, rolling the putter well. So I’m not really worried about the results of how those shots come out. It feels like just a cruising day. Just hit fairways, greens and have a run for a birdie.”
She’s feeling confident as she takes a four-shot lead into the weekend.
“When you shoot a bogey-free, tying the tournament record, you feel fantastic,” she said. “I said yesterday and today, everything just kind of flowing really nicely.”
Kang made a few changes in the off-season including getting a new caddie, Dale Smith, who had previously worked with Kang’s brother Alex, who plays on the Web.com Tour. Kang also worked on getting stronger this off-season, putting on nine pounds of muscle with her new trainer by working out every day.
Tied behind Kang at eight-under is the “other” Korda sister, Nellie, along with Marina Alex, making it three Americans sitting at the top.
Alex is looking for her first LPGA victory. Alex didn’t play this event last year, and her best finish in 2017 was a tie for third at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. She notched a tie for fifth at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open earlier this season as her best result of the year so far.
Like Alex, the younger Korda sister is looking for her first win and Nellie says she was inspired by her older sister Jessica’s win last week.
“She does make me want to be a better player, and seeing her win last week after the tough off-season she’s had was definitely very inspiring,” said Nelly. “Hopefully I can step my game up this week and take it home, but we’ll see.”
Cristie Kerr will head into the weekend just five behind. She’s at seven-under par after rounds of 70-67. Last week’s winner, Jessica Korda, is at six-under along with Austin Ernst and Lizette Salas.
World’s No. 2 Lexi Thompson rebounded from her opening 75 with a 69 on Friday but she’s 12 back at even par, tied for 41st.
