A closing bogey was the only blip on an otherwise stellar day for Yealimi Noh, who notched eight birdies in a Day 2 7-under 64. Noh hit 12 fairways and 17 greens on Friday at the Founders Cup en route to a share of the early lead with Jin Hee Im at 10 under.
“All my shots were where I was trying to hit them, tempo was really good, and some putts were dropping,” said Noh, who made four consecutive birdies from Nos. 3-6 at Bradenton Country Club. The 23-year-old American enjoyed a resurgence in her game last year, finishing outside the top 25 only once in her last eight starts.
For reference, Noh only made nine cuts in 18 starts the year prior. She put a long putter in her bag in the summer of 2023 and saw improvements.
“I never even thought of trying it, but my coach and my dad suggested it to me and I tried it,” said Noh last year. “It helped me get over that uneasy feeling over the ball. So, that’s how it started and now using it a year after, my stroke has gotten really solid and my speed is great with the putter so it has helped me a lot.”
Noh ranked 130th in putts per green in regulation on tour in 2022 and 102nd in 2023. She finished last season ranked 30th in putts per GIR.
Two-time major winner Minjee Lee put a long putter in play this season as well.
Noh’s 64 on Friday ties the 18-hole scoring record at Bradenton Country Club and her two-day total of 132 ties Korda’s 36-hole record set in 2024.
South Korea’s Im stepped outside her comfort zone with a post-round interview on Golf Channel in English.
“Today I don’t have sleep well,” she said, “but that fog delay make good break for me.”
Fog pushed back tee times the last two days, though oddly only on the front nine on Thursday by 25 minutes. The 10th tee starting times were unaffected.
On Friday, morning starting times for both sides were pushed back by an hour.
Im noted that she’d been in Florida for a month getting tuned up for the season and that time on Bermuda grass certainly helped, along with her caddie’s, David Poitevent, reads on the greens.
Hannah Green shot 65 on Friday to get within three strokes at 7 under along with Jennifer Kupcho (70). Lexi Thompson, who is now semi-retired, sits at 4 under, six back. Thompson revealed that she might play in as many as three majors this season.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Yealimi Noh cards course-record 64 at LPGA Founders Cup
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