The final grouping of the HSBC Women’s World Championship includes three of the biggest stars on the LPGA Tour, Lydia Ko, Charley Hull and Jeeno Thitikul.
Lydia Ko, the LPGA’s newest hall of fame inductee, has the solo lead at -10, one stroke ahead of Hull. Ko had an adventurous round that included three bogeys with seven birdies. Ko continued to be strong off the tee, hitting 11 fairways and relied on timely putting. After struggling with her approach game in round one, Ko once again was solid in that mark in round two, hitting 16/18 greens.
Ko is looking for her 23rd win on the LPGA Tour, the most of any full-time active player by a wide margin..Charley Hull, the viral superstar and fan favorite, sits just one back of Ko at -9. As usual, Hull used her fantastic distance of the tee, but also showed up with the putter, needing only 28 strokes with the flat stick and hitting 14 greens in regulation. Hull is looking for her third LPGA Tour win in a season where many have high expectations for the 28-year-old from England. This could also be a major event leading to a potential spot in the International Crown for the World team alongside Lydia Ko.
Jeeno Thitikul, the rising superstar who has the most top-10 finishes on tour over the last three years, sits in third at -7. She will need a strong round to combat Hull and Ko, but that isn’t impossible for the player who has finished top three in scoring average the past three seasons, including first the last two.
Also in contention is Minjee Lee, looking for a big comeback victory and is tied for fourth at -6. Two winners from 2025 are also in the mix, with A Lim Kim also sitting at -6 and Yealimi Noh is tied for seventh at -5.
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