Lydia Ko firms lead for biggest prize in women’s golf history at LPGA finale

Lydia Ko consolidated her lead at the midway mark of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship after capturing the day’s greatest rating of 66.

The 25-year-old turned a one-shot lead right into a five-shot edge as she additionally chased down the two-million-dollar (£1.6million) prize for LPGA Tour participant of the yr.

The New Zealander was 5 strokes forward of South Korea’s Hyo Joo Jim at 13 below at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on a day the place she collected 4 birdies throughout a six-hole run.

She mentioned afterwards: “I just wanted to focus on my game. I shot a low one yesterday and that round, it can be anybody throughout the week.”

The second spherical was performed the identical day the Tour introduced LPGA gamers will compete for a file 101.4million US {dollars} (£85million) subsequent season.

Ko started the week with a one-point lead for participant of the yr and can declare her second straight Vare Trophy offered her scores don’t immediately fall off a cliff in Florida.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire shot a second-straight 69 to be seven off the tempo at six below, saying of the chief: “Lydia is Lydia.”

“I’m sure she’s going to keep going, so ultimately try and shoot as low as we can over the weekend and see what happens,” the 27-year-old added.

England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff was at 5 below, adopted a shot again by countrywoman Georgia Hall whereas Charley Hull had a double-bogey and 6 bogeys for her 78 to be at 5 over at the underside of the leaderboard.