Rain clouds are gathering over Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona. Weather forecasts predict an 80% chance of precipitation for Round 2 of the Ford Championship. This could dramatically alter playing conditions for the stellar field assembled at the year’s most anticipated early-season event.

Charley Hull fired a blistering 9-under 63 in Thursday’s opening round. She now holds a one-stroke lead over Nanna Koerstz Madsen heading into Friday’s play. Her record-breaking performance included seven birdies and an eagle, showcasing her mastery of the challenging desert layout.

The tournament leader won’t have to wait long to continue her charge. Hull will tee off at 12:39 PM ET from the 1st hole alongside Lydia Ko and Ruoning Yin. Both playing partners carded impressive 7-under rounds on Thursday.

This power trio will face challenging afternoon conditions. Data from Round 1 shows morning groups outperformed afternoon starters by nearly a full stroke on average. Hull’s afternoon time could pose a challenge as she aims to maintain her momentum.

Defending champion Nelly Korda anchors one of the morning’s premier groups. She tees off at 7:44 AM ET from the 10th tee with Jeeno Thitikul and Patty Tavatanakit. Korda carded a solid 5-under 67 on Thursday, positioning herself just four shots off the lead.

Other notable pairings include Lexi Thompson alongside Hannah Green and A Lim Kim. They start at 12:28 PM from the 10th tee. Thompson seeks to improve after a mixed opening round where she hit 78.6% of fairways but struggled with her putter.

The detailed tee times for Round 2 are as follows:

Weather threatens to disrupt afternoon play

Players face dramatically different conditions compared to Thursday’s opener. Temperatures will peak at only 8°C, with a RealFeel® of 14°C during midday hours. Light showers could persist for several hours during Round 2. Tournament meteorologists have also noted a slight chance of thunderstorms that might cause delays. This presents a stark contrast to Thursday’s sunny and breezy conditions.

Wind patterns have shifted significantly for the second round. Players now face relatively light WSW winds at 7 km/h with occasional gusts reaching 20 km/h. This represents less of a challenge than the 28 km/h winds with 33 km/h gusts they navigated in Round 1.

Morning groups clearly hold the weather advantage for Friday’s play. Forecasters predict full overcast conditions by evening, potentially affecting visibility for late finishers like Hull. Afternoon players could face the brunt of precipitation and changing green speeds.

Will Hull overcome the challenging afternoon weather to extend her lead? Can Korda capitalize on her favorable morning tee time to make a charge? Share your predictions for Round 2 in the comments section below!