ARIYA OUTLASTS MORIYA TO WIN JUTANUGARN SISTER MATCH

 

Ariya, the 21-year-old top seed in the Annika Sorenstam bracket, never trailed to 22-year-old Moriya, but was also never able to build a lead of more than two holes .

“Today we had fun because we are sisters, and we always have fun anyways, “said Ariya, who carded four birdies to her sister’s two. “She plays so good, I can’t believe I beat her today because she’s so good.”

“We always say, just have a good day. We know that we both are going to try our best, play our games,” said Moriya, who plans to return to their Orlando, Fla., homebase and cheer on her sister from afar. “We don’t try to be easy on each other. Hopefully next time we are not on the same pool. And don’t have to see each other so early in the week.”

Pornanong Phatlum lost to third seed Charley Hull of UK 2 & 1.

FAST FINISH

Canada’s Brooke Henderson, the third seed in the Lorena Ochoa bracket, came back from 2-down at the turn with a scintillating run of five birdies in six holes to wrap up a 2-and-1 victory over American Ryann O’Toole.

 

“I knew I had some work to do,” said Henderson, who won her first major title at last year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “I was able to do make four birdies in a row (from the 12th) that helped my momentum. I played great today ... and she played great too, so it was just an awesome match.

 

“I’m hitting the ball extremely well, and on the back nine the putts definitely started to fall with those five birdies. Hopefully I can continue with that tomorrow and you will see me all weekend.”

 

HULL PUTS FAINTING SPELL BEHIND HER, REACHES THIRD ROUND

For the second day in a row, Charley Hull sealed victory on the 17th green, but at least on Friday she felt a lot better after suffering a fainting spell midway through the back nine in her first-round match.

 

England’s Hull, who thinks that she picked up a bug coming into this week at the Club de Golf Mexico, won a see-sawing encounter in the Round of 32 over Thai Pornanong Phatlum, 2-and-1, after being conceded a birdie putt from inside two feet at the par-5 17th.

 

“I felt like I hit it pretty good,” said Hull. “I missed a few shots out there but apart from that, I feel I am pretty solid. I feel so much better than I did yesterday.”

 

Less than 24 hours earlier, Hull had to get medical treatment after almost collapsing in the 12th fairway during her first-round match against American Nelly Korda, and she was diagnosed with low blood sugar.

 

“It was probably a bug in the morning and it got worse and worse in the afternoon, probably from dehydration,” said the 21-year-old, who won her first LPGA Tour title at last year’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

 

For Mark Lamport-Stokes’ full visit with Charley Hull, visit http://www.lpga.com/news/2017-hull-beats-phatlum-in-round-of-32-lorena-ochoa-match-play

 

LINDBERG, JUTANUGARN SHARE MATCH-PLAY HISTORY

The last time Pernilla Lindberg played in a match-play setting was in the 2014 UL International Crown. Lindberg’s Sweden team made it to singles play, where she was paired against an up-and-coming teenager from Thailand –Ariya Jutanugarn. Experience trumped youth on that occasion, with Lindberg taking the match in a convincing 6-and-5 result.

 

A lot has changed since then – Ariya is now a five-time LPGA Tour winner and major champion while Pernilla is still searching for her first career victory. The World No. 3 player will get a chance at payback on Saturday as she will meet Lindberg again in the Round of 16 in the Annika Sorenstam bracket.

 

“Obviously, (Ariya) has had a lot of success since then so I will be the underdog,” said Lindberg, who has guaranteed herself the best result of her 2017 season by making it to the top 16. “So, I’m just going to keep going with my strategy and not get worked up about anything and hopefully I can keep getting those irons in close to.”

 

NO CHANGE AT WORLD NO. 1

As Lydia Ko has reached the third round and will finish no worse than tied for ninth, she cannot lose her World No. 1 seeding, even with an Ariya Jutanugarn win. The result will mark Ko’s fifth top-10 finish in nine starts this season.