Thitikul Takes Lead at Mizuho Americas Open Amidst Windy Conditions
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Jeeno Thitikul navigated challenging winds and recovered from a double bogey with an impressive nine birdies, carding a 7-under 65 on Saturday. This performance propelled her to a one-shot lead over Celine Boutier heading into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National.
Key Players in Contention
- Jeeno Thitikul: The world No. 2 golfer demonstrated resilience and skill, finishing at 14-under 202.
- Celine Boutier: Boutier’s strong finish,including three consecutive birdies,put her just one stroke behind the leader.
- Nelly korda: The defending champion and world No. 1 is only two shots back, seeking her first victory of the year.
- Andrea Lee: Lee’s consistent play has her tied with Korda,both at 12-under 204.
- Yealimi Noh: Noh’s eagle on the 16th has her within striking distance, three shots behind Thitikul.
Did you know? Liberty National Golf Club, the venue for the Mizuho Americas Open, offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, providing a unique backdrop for the tournament.
thitikul’s Resilient Round
Despite a double bogey on the par-4 sixth hole, Thitikul showcased her ability to bounce back. She birdied the reachable par-4 16th, navigating the water hazard on the right, and followed it up with another birdie on the 17th. The strategies for today, I’m just trying to keep it on the fairway and then on the green,
Thitikul said. I know it’s going to be a really tough day and then I have to be patient out there. So I don’t know how I did that, but like I’ll take it.
Boutier’s Birdie Barrage
Celine Boutier capitalized on the favorable setup, especially on the greens. It was a nice setup today,
Boutier said. I feel like it was challenging with the wind, but the setup made it possible to have some chances if you were hitting good.
Her 40-foot birdie putt on the 15th, which she described as a bonus,
ignited a streak of three consecutive birdies, positioning her closely behind Thitikul.
korda Stays in the Hunt
Nelly korda,aiming for her first win of the year,remains a strong contender. She made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 14th, but missed opportunities on the 16th and 18th. You just have to dial in to small target and you have to be focused 100 percent on each shot,
Korda said, reflecting on the challenging conditions. You knew you were going to make mistakes. Had a pretty solid day.
Pro Tip: When playing in windy conditions, focus on controlling your ball flight by using a lower trajectory and selecting clubs that provide more control.
Course Adjustments and Final Round Outlook
The LPGA Tour adjusted the tee positions to mitigate the impact of the strong winds, which significantly affected play, especially on the closing holes. The final round is scheduled for earlier tee times to accommodate network television coverage on CBS, with a 3 p.m. local time finish. While the wind is expected to subside, Boutier anticipates a diffrent set of challenges. It’s supposed to be a bit less windy.I’m assuming the scores are going to be kind of low, too,
Boutier noted. We’ll see what happens, but happy to be in this position.
