Lydia Ko is beginning to look like the player who rose to No. 1 in the world as a teenager.
Ko was pretty flawless on Thursday at the Gainbridge as she got the best of Boca Rio with nine birdies on her way to the first round lead with 63.
Ko, who has worked her way back to No. 3 in the Rolex Rankings, is only 24-years-old but won her first title at the age of 15. She’s looking for her 17th win this week.
Ko continues to trend up after her win in Hawaii last season that ended a three-year winless drought.
Early in the day, last week’s winner, Danielle Kang, kept up her great play and opened with a seven-under par 65 that included a near-ace at the 131-yard 17th hole. He tee shot tried to force its way into the hole but it bounced hard off the flagstick and stopped 15 feet away. Undaunted, she made the birdie putt. Kang finished third here two years ago but didn’t remember much about the course.
“I don’t remember, to be honest,” Kang said. “All I remember is the greens being really fast — I can’t remember the shots that I hit.”
Kang hadn’t won since the summer of 2020 until her victory last week at Lake Nona in the Tournament of Champions.
Seven players were bunched up at five-under par, including Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.
Defending champion and world No. 1 Nelly Korda was one of a whopping 14 players who shot 68.
Lexi Thompson shot 70, Jessica Korda 72.
Beatriz Recari Retiring From Competitive Golf:
LPGA Tour veteran Beatriz Recari is calling it a career. She announced this week that she’s retiring from competitive golf at the age of 34.
Recari, a native of Spain, was a rookie on Tour in 2010 and won three times during her career and won $3.2 million. Her game has steadily declined and she hasn’t been able to make 36-hole cuts and she’ll miss the cut again at the Gainbridge after an opening round of 78.
Harding Leads In Dubai, Rory Makes A Friday Move:
South African Justin Harding is sitting on top of the field after 36-holes at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Harding opened with a 65 at the Emirates Golf Club on Thursday then added a 68 on day two to get to 11-under par.
Tyrrell Hatton, a four-time winner of these Rolex Series events, was closest to Harding at nine-under after after shooting 66.
Rory McIlroy made a big move on day two. After a ho-hum opening 71, Rory fashioned a 66 that got him to seven-under, just four back of the leader heading into the final 36.
World No. 2 Collin Morikawa continued his venture in mediocrity, adding 73 to his opening 68 and stands three-under and tied for 25th.
Dubai Desert Classic Scoreboard:
