FRISCO, Texas – Yealimi Noh and Lexi Thompson birdied two of the last three holes coming down the stretch at the KPMG Women’s PGA despite a grueling wait in the heat. There were four groups on the eighth tee at the Field Ranch East course when the marquee group came through Thursday evening.
“It was pretty brutal,” said Thompson of their six-hour round. “I just drank a lot of water and tried to stay loose when we were in those waits on those holes and stay mentally in it.”
The short par-4 seventh at 317 yards lured players into getting as close as possible, with a tricky green, and the par-3 eighth featured an unfriendly hole location. Add in a reachable par 5 to finish, and it all added up to a big backup.
“It was just like wait, wait, wait,” said Thompson.
Noh, one of 15 different winners on tour this season, shot 2-under 70 to finish two back of leader Jeeno Thitikul, who made miles of putts in her morning 68.
“My umbrella was the only shade out there,” said Noh of a toasty Texas day.
After a sluggish start, Thompson shot even-par 72 to sit in a share of 16th along with world No. 1 Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang. The KPMG marks Thompson’s seventh start of the season. She tied for fourth at last week’s Meijer LPGA Classic.
A total of 15 players broke par in the opening round.
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