When the Jutanugarn sisters were eyeballing the brackets at the LPGA Match Play on Wednesday, they were both thinking the same thing.
Win the first match and it’s Ariya vs. Moriya in the Round of 32.
That’s what transpired on Thursday down in Mexico City.
Ariya, the world’s No. 3, disposed of Amy Anderson in one of the day’s most lopsided matches — 5-and-4 while Moriya took care of business with a 2-and-1 win over Alena Sharp.
That set up the Friday meeting of 21-year-old Ariya and 22-year-old Moriya.
These siblings are tight. They share a home at posh Lake Nona in Orlando.
“We always try to be ourselves so she’s probably going to go out there and play her best so I say I’m going to play my best,” said older sis Moriya of the Friday showdown.
To date, Ariya’s been superior talent. She’s ranked third in the world compared to Moriya at 57.
But anything can happen in match play although most of the big names made it through the round of 32.
The only big-name casualty. Stacy Lewis, the third seed in her bracket, lost to 14-seed Ayako Uehara of Japan, one-up.
World’s No. 1 Lydia Ko won 3-and-2 over Ana Menendez of Mexico.
Cristie Kerr was a 2-and-1 winner over fellow American Brittany Altomare.
In the most lopsided match of the day, Michelle Wie took a 6-and-5 win over Lizette Sales.
