‘Everybody Probably Wants a Piece of Her’: LPGA Icon Lydia Ko Divulges That the 2023 US Women’s Open Queen Has a Massive Target on Her Back

Lydia Ko has just one top-10 finish in nine starts this year. Ko failed to impress in the LPGA Tour’s back-to-back majors, finishing T57 at the PGA Championship and tying for 33rd place at the US Women’s Open. However, the 26-year-old appears to be turning things around at the ongoing Dana Open, where she opened with a 67 on Thursday.

After 36 holes, the golfer is at 7-under 135 and is currently tied for the 13th position. Another highlight of the day came at the round two press conference, when Ko gushed about the LPGA’s latest sensation and Pebble Beach star. Let’s dive right in to find out more!

Lydia Ko details playing with a US Women’s Open hero at the LPGA event

Mere hours after emerging as the winner at the US Women’s Open, Allisen Corpuz descended upon the Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, for the 2023 Dana Open. To make things even better, the second day of the tournament saw her paired up with fellow LPGA icons Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee in the same group.

So far into the Dana Open, the 25-year-old Corpuz has been the talk of the town, and justifiably so. Even World No. 3 Ko, who has won 2 majors herself, commended the Honolulu native for playing the event right after her major win. “I think tired is an understatement of probably how she is. No matter if you played two days or make the cut and play four or you win, it’s a long week,” she said. “And if you win it or and especially if you’re in contention, it’s an even longer week.”

“I’m sure everybody probably wants a piece of her, and she probably hasn’t had much time to herself,” the 19-time LPGA Tour winner further added. Ko also heaped praise on Corpuz for her performance at the ongoing LPGA event, saying, “You don’t see any of that fatigue.”

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Corpuz is currently tied for second place after she carded a 66 on Friday. It was her second straight bogey-free round following a first-round 67.

Annie Park leads; Allisen Corpuz is tied for the second spot

On day two of the 2023 Dana Open, Annie Park birdied seven of her last 10 holes for a score of 8 under 63. Entering the weekend, Park has a two-stroke lead over Allisen Corpuz, Linn Grant, and Jaravee Boonchant.

The 28-year-old played her final nine in 6-under 28 to reach a total of 11-under 131. Park’s impressive performance comes after she missed the cut at the US Women’s Open last week. To date, the American golfer’s lone victory on the LPGA Tour came at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic. Back in 2013, she claimed the NCAA title and led Southern California to the team championship.

Corpuz’s 5-under 66 helped her get to a 9-under total at the end of round two. Both Grant and Boonchant, who had tied for the first-round lead at 64, shot 69.

This year, the Dana Open boasts a purse of $1.75 million, out of which the eventual winner will win $262,500.

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Who do you think will win at the 2023 Dana Open? Let us know in the comments!