Lydia Ko storms into LPGA Ford Championship; Ryan Fox makes it to the PGA Texas Children's Houston Open
In a stunning second round, Lydia Ko catapulted into contention at the LPGA Ford Championship in Gilbert, Arizona.
The 26-year-old Ko started the day at 3 under and shot a flawless round of 64 to reach 11 under for the tournament in the United States. At the halfway point, Ko is in a four-way tie for fifth place and is three shots behind the leader heading into the final two rounds of the event.
The New Zealander managed an impressive eight birdies in her round, including five on the front nine, to complete her day's work.
Saturday's attempt (NZ time) came after Ko shot three-under on day one and she is yet to make a shot in the tournament.
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Ko is level with Japan's Yuka Saso, who reached nine-under in her second round, Germany's Caroline Masson (seven-under) and Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn (two-under).
Australia's Hannah Green is the clubhouse leader, sitting at 14 under after an 11-under second round that included a string of six consecutive birdies to close.
Germany's Isi Gabsa and Australia's Gabriela Ruffels could keep pace with the leaders, both at 8 under and still heading into the second round as the first group of players left the course.
Ko is currently ranked eighth in the world and needs just one more tournament win to secure a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame.
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“I don’t think I’ll fall asleep or wake up one day and think about the Hall of Fame,” Ko said before the tournament. “I think the people around me think about it more than I do.
“To be honest, I thought about it a lot last year just because you're so close.
“Getting into the Hall of Fame was never a big goal of mine because I didn't think I might be able to be one of the players who are already in the Hall of Fame.
“After such a great year in '22, I think it was the first time I thought, 'Oh, maybe I could be a Hall of Famer.' Of course, we all know that last year didn't go as well as I would have liked.
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“But I've said in other interviews that it seems a bit easier to be one point away than two. Sometimes it's just easier said than done. Some players win for the first time in 10 years. It’s just not that easy.”
In her LPGA career, Ko has won 20 tournaments, including two majors. Her most recent victory came in January 2024 when she captured the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions title.
On the PGA Tour, Ryan Fox made the cut at the Texas Children's Houston Open; It was only his third cut in seven tournaments on the American tour this year.
Fox waited nervously after completing his second round, sitting just below the cut line in the one-over. With a one-over 71 in his first round, Fox flirted with the cut line throughout the second round, but did some damage control near the end with consecutive birdies on the par-3 15th and the par-5 16th, followed them with a bogey – he was unlucky as his tee shot hit the turn before rolling a few meters into the water. With a par on his final hole, he finished the round at even par and one-over for the tournament.
At this point the cut line was even even, but things fell in Fox's favor as the rest of the players finished their rounds and he will enter the weekend 10 shots behind leader and defending champion Tony Finau.
Alex Powell is online sports editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016 and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.
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