Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R1
January 27-30
Boca Rio Golf Club, Boca Raton, Florida
$2,000,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

16-time Tour winner Lydia Ko fired a bogey-free 9-under 63, the 15th unblemished round for Ko in the last two seasons (three more than any other player in that span) to take a two-shot lead in the Gainbridge LPGA. This ties Ko's lowest opening round of her LPGA career, most recently recorded at the 2013 Australian Open.

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R1

“I didn't have a great time on the putting green last week, so to kind of see putts going in was good imagery, and I tried to feed off that for the rest of the round. I hit a string of birdies on my front nine [after starting on the 10th]. Overall, I didn't get into much trouble, was putting myself in play. When I had opportunity for birdie, for the most part I was able to hole it, which is nice.”

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R1

Danielle Kang carded eight birdies to shoot a 7-under 65. This was the fifth time since the start of 2020 that Kang opened with a 7-under or better and the previous three times, she either won or finished runner-up.

“I don't really try and focus on momentum, whether you have to create it, or it's not there or there. I played well last week. It's a new week. I still have things to work on. I still have things I need to focus on.

“Every golf shot is difficult. Golf is hard. My whole thing is to be mentally present and constantly work on the things that I need to work on without being so focused on the result, while knowing what I need to do and want to do but being able to prioritize what my values are right now.”

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R1

Aditi Ashok, who signed for a 6-under 66, sits three shots back. She hit 17 consecutive greens in regulation before the par-4 18th halted her streak. Ashok added a new Callaway 5-hybrid into the bag to start the season and it paid dividends on the “really long” track.

“Last time [here at Boca Rio] I missed the cut, but I remember it being really long. This time I was kind of focused on playing the long holes good and worked on my hybrids a lot the last three, four days. That helped because I know I’m going to get at least five or six hybrids, maybe more, into greens. Being able to hit those close and make birdies with hybrids was good for me.”

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R1