The LPGA’s Fortinet Founders Cup features the top two players in the world rankings, No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and No. 2 Nelly Korda. Each have a win already in 2026 but so far this week in Northern California, one is contending while the other has work to do.
Korda posted a second-round 68 and is tied for fourth at 6 under, two shots back of Hyo Joo Kim, who opened with a 63 on Thursday. Kim started her second round in Friday’s afternoon wave after Korda had signed her card.
Advertisement
The LPGA is at Sharon Heights near Stanford for the first time, a private course that seems to be throwing some challenges at the field so far this week.
Nelly Korda plays her shot from the 10th tee during the first round of the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.
“Just tricky,” Korda said “Yesterday played different to today for me as for tee shots. I backed down off driver a couple times, hit my 3-wood. It’s tricky. You really have to shape it out here. I would say some of the holes, I wouldn’t say it’s a draw-biased golf course or fade-biased golf course. You kind of have to work it both ways here. Some of the trees are a little bit intimidating and the greens are tough, too. Not only are they really undulated, but sometimes they’re a little bit harder to read, too.”
As far as her morning boost, Korda has already found a couple of coffee spots.
Advertisement
“Saint Frank’s is pretty good. I like their flat white. Then I went to 1 Oz. That was pretty good but a little further away. So Saint Frank’s is pretty close,” she said. And as for food? “There is a True Food on campus and I just like it because it’s seed oil free. So I just, yesterday I cooked right after my round.”
Thitikul opened with an even-par 72 and was outside the top 40 after 18 holes.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA Founders Cup: Nelly Korda contending after two rounds
Read the full article here