Lake Nona member Lydia Ko, Lottie Woad share lead in LPGA Tour opener
[January 31, 2026]
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Lake Nona member Lydia Ko shot a 5-under 67 on
Friday for a share of second-round lead with Lottie Woad in the LPGA
Tour’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Ko, the 2024 tournament winner and a Hilton Grand Vacations ambassador,
is the lone player in the 39-woman field without a bogey after two days.
The Hall of Famer has 23 LPGA Tour victories. |
Angel Yin tees off on the second hole during the first round of the
Tournament of Champions LPGA golf tournament, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026,
in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) |
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“I’ve had to hole some good par putts, but I really haven’t put
myself in that many difficult positions as of yet,” said Ko,
from New Zealand. “I think that’s why I had the two bogey-free
rounds. I’m hoping to kind of continue that good momentum this
weekend.”
Woad shot a 69 to match Ko at 8-under 136 in mostly sunny
conditions with 12 mph wind at the most in the 70-degree
afternoon.
“I looked at the leaderboard quite a lot today because I was
getting annoyed,” Woad said. “Seemed like there weren’t that
many low scores out there, so kind of knew I was still in it.
The pins were probably a little trickier so weren’t as many
birdies as yesterday.”
The 22-year-old English player won the ISPS Handa Women’s
Scottish Open last year, weeks after taking the KPMG Women’s
Irish Open as an amateur on the Ladies European Tour.
Nasa Hataoka, also a Lake Nona member, was a stroke back with
Amy Yang. Hataoka had a 71, and Yang shot 69.
Defending champion A Lim Kim was 6 under after her second 69.
Youmin Hwang (67) and Ingrid Lindblad (69) also were 6 under.
Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul and Kelly Korda were 5 under. Thitkul
had a 72, and Korda shot 71.
“I think the weather is going to get a little worse so I’m going
to go to the putting green, go to the range because wasn’t
hitting it the best today,” Korda said. “Just going to figure
some things out ahead of the weekend.”
Baseball player Aaron Hicks topped the celebrity field.
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