Golf: Lydia Ko posts steady second round to stay in contention at PGA Championship

Lydia Ko. Photo / Photosport

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has posted a solid second round at the PGA Championship to remain in contention for what would be a third major title.

After opening with a two-under par 68, Ko recorded an even par 70 this morning to sit in a tie for sixth place, two shots behind the leader, South Korea's Sei Young Kim.

It was a remarkably steady round from the two-time major winner with just one birdie and one bogey scattered amongst 16 pars.

"You just have to stay patient, especially at major championships and at venues like this. I think sometimes the patience runs out and you get frustrated, but making a lot of pars here is good," Ko said.

"Par is a really good score on the majority of these holes, and when you try to get the opportunities, even though it doesn't happen very often, you have to try and take advantage of those moments."

Kim birdied five of the final six holes as darkness fell for a five-under 65 and the second-round lead. The 27-year-old South Korean closed with a six-under 29 on the front nine, tying Karrie Webb (2001) and Sarah Kemp (2011) for the lowest nine-hole score in the event.

A 10-time LPGA Tour winner, Kim is looking for her first major victory. She was runner-up at the 2015 PGA Championship and tied for second at the Evian Championship in 2018.

The last four winners of the tournament either led or co-led after 36 holes.
Jennifer Kupcho (65), Danielle Kang (69), Carlota Ciganda (69) and Anna Nordqvist (68) were a stroke back.

Meanwhile, Ryan Fox is also in title contention on the men's European Tour after posting a two-under 70 in his second round.

Fox couldn't quite match his opening-round fireworks, where he shot a four-under 68 at the Wentworth Golf Club, but still did enough to stay within touching distance of leaders Shane Lowry and Matthew Fitzpatrick at 12-under.

The one-time European Tour winner now sits at six-under for the tournament in a tie for 10th place.

Danny Lee posted an even-par 71 in the second round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the PGA Tour to miss the cut by five shots.