Golf: Lydia Ko surges into contention at LPGA’s Ford Championship in Hall of Fame hunt

A stunning second round has seen Lydia Ko surge into contention at the LPGA’s Ford Championship in Gilbert, Arizona. Beginning the day at three-under, 26-year-old Ko carded a blemish-free round of 64, and moved to 11-under for the tournament. At the halfway stage, Ko sits in a four-way tie for fifth place, and sits three shots off the leader heading into the final two rounds of the tournament.

The Kiwi made an impressive eight birdies in her round, including five on the front nine to finish her day’s work. Saturday’s (NZ time) effort came after Ko made three-under on the first day, and is yet to drop a shot this tournament.
Ko sits level with Japan’s Yuka Saso, who made nine-under in her second round, Germany’s Caroline Masson (seven-under) and Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn (two-under).

Australia’s Hannah Green is the clubhouse leader, sitting at 14-under after an 11-under second round – which included a run of six consecutive birdies to finish. Germany’s Isi Gabsa and Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels could contend with the leaders, both sitting at eight-under and yet to begin their second round as the first group of players left the course.

Currently ranked eighth in the world, Ko needs just one more tournament victory to earn a spot in the LPGA’s Hall of Fame. “I don’t think I fall asleep or wake up in a day thinking about the Hall of Fame,” Ko said before the tournament. “I think people around me think about it more than I do. To be honest, last year I thought a lot about it, just because you’re so close.

“Being in the Hall of Fame was never really a big goal of mine because I didn’t think that I was maybe capable to be part of those players that’s already in the Hall of Fame. “After such a great year in ‘22 I think it was the first time I was like, ‘oh, maybe I could be a Hall of Famer’. Obviously we all know that last year didn’t go as well as I would’ve liked.

“But, I said before in other interviews, being one point away seems a little easier than two. Sometimes it’s just easier said than done. Some players win for their first time in 10 years. It’s just not that easy.” In her LPGA career, Ko has 20 tournament victories – including two Majors – with her last win coming in January 2024, when she lifted the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions title.