There was talk earlier this year that Inbee Park’s thumb injury might threaten her career.
The 28-year-old from South Korea, who missed two majors this season, has put those questions to rest with two straight rounds of 5-under-par 66 on the Olympic Golf Course to take a one stroke lead over Stacy Lewis of the United States in the Women’s Olympic Tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
“(In the first round), my ball-striking was solid, but today I felt better with the putter and made a lot of birdie putts,” said Park, who has seven major titles among her 17 LPGA Tour victories and qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame earlier this year.
“This is only half of the tournament, so I have to keep calm and keep doing the same things I’ve been doing for the last two days.”
Park, who birdied three of the last four holes to overcome her only bogey in 36 holes at No. 7, posted a two-round score of 10-under 132.
Lewis tied the course record set by Marcus Fraser of Australia and tied by Matt Kuchar of the U.S. in the Men’s Olympic Tournament last week, making birdies on five of the last six holes for a total of 11 to offset a double-bogey 5 on the 14th hole.
“I think I just got a little mad and was more aggressive after that three-putt (on No. 14),” said Lewis, who has finished second 11 times since claiming the last of her 12 LPGA Tour victories in the 2014 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
“I hit it close and felt so good with the putter. I loved making birdies on the last four holes. … I felt much more comfortable on the tee, knowing the sight lines, because there are so many blind shots.”
Brooke Henderson of Canada carded a bogey-free 64, making five birdies on the last six holes, and was two shots back in a tie for fourth with Charley Hull of England, who had a 66.
Both are 18.
“I felt way better today and got it going in the right direction,” said Henderson, who opened with what she though was a lackluster 70. “I played better on the last few holes of the first round and the momentum carried over.
“It was a lot of fun to make those five birdies at the end and I’m looking forward to the next two days.”
Candie Kung of Chinese Taipei, who played at USC, birdied the last three holes to post a 68 and was three strokes behind in a tie for fifth with Marianne Skarpnord of Norway, who had a 66, and Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark, who wound up at 68.
Aria Jutanugarn of Thailand, the first-round leader at 65, managed only a 71 and was another shot down in a tie for eighth with Gerina Piller of the U.S., who posted a bogey-free 67 and Minjee Lee of Australia, who also had a 67.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand finished at 70 and was seven strokes behind in a tie for 22nd that included amateur Leona Maguire of Ireland, who plays at Duke, and Lexi Thompson of the U.S., who came in at 71.
