FRISCO, Texas – The toughest day of the year on the LPGA brought more six-hour rounds and a number of notable players heading home before the weekend at the KPMG Women’s PGA. Only two holes averaged under par at Fields Ranch East, where the second-round scoring average of 76.012 is the second-highest at an LPGA major in a decade.
Jeeno Thitikul, who has a chance to rise to No. 1 in the world with a victory, opened up a three-shot lead over two-time major winner Minjee Lee (72) and Rio Takeda (71) at 6 under after rounds of 68-70. Part-time player Lexi Thompson sits four back, with only a total of seven players finishing under par after two rounds.
The cut fell at 7 over, with 78 players making the weekend.
Mao Saigo, winner of the 2025 Chevron Championship, and last year’s KPMG Women’s PGA champion Amy Yang, were among the players to miss the cut.
The struggle also continued for former No. 1 Lilia Vu, who shot 77-76 to miss her fourth consecutive cut this season.
Another former No. 1, Jin Young Ko, withdrew midway through her second round due to illness on a day when the feels-like temperature hit triple-digits. Ko shot 74 in the opening round and was shown on the broadcast leaving the golf course after making double bogey on No. 12. She was six over in her last four holes, moving to 10 over on the championship.
The 29-year-old Ko, a 15-time winner on the LPGA, tied for 14th at the U.S. Women’s Open and took a share of sixth at Chevron.
Later in the day, fellow South Korean Hyo Joo Kim pulled out of the championship after nine holes with an injury. Kim opened with a 76 in Round 1 and made birdie on her last hole before calling it a day.
