Pernilla Lindberg and Sung Hyun Park have separated themselves from the rest of the field with a record 36-hole pace at the LPGA’s first major of the season.
Both Lindberg and Park are in at 12-under par out in Rancho Mirage and that was a shot better than the 11-under mark set by Lorena Ochoa back in 2006.
Park got everyone’s attention with the low round of the tournament on Friday, an eight-under par 64 and she made it look easy. She’s comfortable at the top, she’s a major champion, was 2017 Rookie Of The Year and Co-Player Of The Year along with that.
Park spent time before this event working on her game. She doesn’t use an instructor and prefers to do her own thing. “I love being on my own,” Park said. “It’s my own game, so anytime I need to fix something, I’m going to feel that. It’s really served me well to work on my own.”
Lindberg is a surprise co-leader. She missed the cut at her last event, the Founders Cup, and sought help from her Swedish coach back home. “I had just gotten a little off in my set-up which was causing me being a little off plane in my swing,” said Lindberg. “Just getting comfortable, back to a better set-up, and that kind of just put everything in place. But still a work in progress. Every day I go out and hit a few shots on the range just doing a couple drills to make sure I’m staying on track there.”
Lindberg added a second round 67 to her opening 65 and had a chance for the lead on her own but failed to birdie the par five 18th at Mission Hills.
Jessica Korda, who has already won this year, is closest to the lead duo. Her 68 on Friday got her to nine-under.
Lexi Thompson fought a balky putter all day and was three-over for her round at one point but battled back late in her round to shoot an even-par 72 and she’ll go into the weekend eight back. Michelle Wie, playing with Thompson, also fought back after her opening 75. She shot 67 and finished two-under.
The 36-hole cut came at one-under and two-time ANA champion Brittany Lincicome was among those going home early after a pair of 73s.
