Lydia Ko of New Zealand. Photo: Getty Images/LPGA
Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko powered her way to the top of the leaderboard after a steady yet streaky third round at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, carving out a narrow one-stroke lead over England’s Charley Hull. Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul holds solo third, three strokes back, setting the stage for a thrilling final day at the Tanjong Course.
Ko, whose round blended steady play with streaks of brilliance and a few hiccups, described her performance as a test of adaptability. She posted a steady 4-under-par 68, mixing seven birdies with three bogeys, to take the lead at 10-under 206.
“It was a little bit more streaky than yesterday,” she admitted post-round. “I made a few mistakes, but I bounced back with some good birdies. Under the circumstances, I felt like I played really solid.” Her score has her sitting pretty atop the field, though she knows the chase is far from over with Hull hot on her heels.
Hull, renowned for her ball-striking prowess, looms just one shot behind, promising a blockbuster final-group showdown. “She’s one of the best out there,” Ko said of her Sunday pairing partner. “I’m excited to play with her.” Meanwhile, Thitikul’s steady climb keeps her in the mix, trailing by three but well within striking distance on a course that’s proven both punishing and rewarding.
With the leaderboard tightening, Ko’s experience and recent form could be the difference as she aims to finally capture a title that’s eluded her. “Hopefully, these past few days will give me good rhythm for tomorrow,” she said.
“I’m excited to be in the final group tomorrow,” said the Hall of Famer. “I’ve been in the final group a couple of times at this event before, and I haven’t necessarily taken it over the finish line. I hope tomorrow is the day to do it.”
“I can only really focus on my game,” she emphasised. “The scores haven’t been quite as low this year, and it’s not easy. You just have to play smart around this golf course. I think I’ve been doing that fairly well. I may make a mistake here and there, but I try not to get too carried away with that and just focus on the next one.”
Despite battling a minor illness earlier in the day, Charley Hull of England maintained focus and delivered one of her best rounds of the tournament, carding a 4-under-par 68 to climb into second place at 9-under 207.
Charley Hull of England
“I woke up this morning, and I actually was sick. I threw up, and then I kind of got my head together,” Hull revealed. “Then I did my personal best in my 5K run in 26 minutes, knocked another minute off. I was pretty happy about that. Thirty seconds off, actually. That kept me in a good space for the rest of the day. Just went out on the golf course and played golf.”
She dismissed any concerns about her health, attributing the sickness to a minor bug. “Just a little bit of a bug. I’m fine,” she reassured.
“I just played pretty solid out there,” Hull said after her round. “Felt pretty confident. Hit some nice, close shots that were tap-ins. Just played all-around solid.”
“I think always when you come off the golf course, you’re always tired. But I’m getting up early, training, and going to bed really early. So I feel nice and recovered for the next day,” she said. “Yeah, I’m pretty happy with the way I’m going, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow and then one more day until I fly home.”
With just one round remaining, Hull remains focused on keeping her mindset steady and playing the game as she has all week.
“My mindset will be no different from literally the last three days,” she stated. “Just go out there, play golf, hole some putts and have fun. That’s about it, really. It’s just a game at the end of the day.”
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul produced a stunning round of 66 to climb back into contention, bouncing back from a challenging start to the tournament.
“I think my first shot is better than yesterday because I had a little bit of a problem with my putter,” Thitikul said. “But it feels good. I changed my driver because I wasn’t keeping on track much. If the ball is on the fairway, it’s way easier than the rough here, and it’s kind of hard to give yourself a whole opportunity.”
Thitikul doesn’t often make equipment changes, but this one paid off.
“Not much,” she said when asked how frequently she switches clubs. “When I grab a new one, it feels so good when I hit it. My problem is with the speed, not the club.”
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Her recent form has been impressive, with two victories in her last four starts and another strong showing last week at the Honda LPGA. However, the intensity of competition has taken its toll.
“My energy level, on a scale of 1 to 10, is less than 5 because it’s so hot,” she admitted. “Last week and my first week in Saudi when I won, after you win, you get really tired because of media interviews and everything else. Also, there was a long line for signing last week, and this week is pretty hot.”
Thitikul entered the third round with a simple mindset, keeping it steady and capitalising on opportunities.
“I was just not thinking much,” she said. “I was just trying to keep my ball in the fairway, and I had a lot of chances to make birdies. Missed some, made some. I thought the greens were so hard to make putts on. If you look at the leaderboard after three days, not even double digits yet, which shows how tough the greens are.”
Finding herself near the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round, Jeeno Thitikul is fully embracing the moment. With a score of 7-under 209, she holds sole possession of third place.
“It feels good,” she said. “I thought I wasn’t going to be on top of the leaderboard that much this week. But seeing myself in contention is more than I expected.”
A lack of concentration caused A Lim Kim, the leader after the first and second rounds, to slip to a tied fourth (T4) position. She carded a one-over-par 73 for 6-under 210, sharing the T4 spot with Minjee Lee and Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukam.
This year’s line-up also includes 19 major champions, 46 LPGA winners with a combined total of 174 titles, 21 Solheim Cup players with 45 appearances, six former world No.1s, and, for the first time, two Singaporean players.
Of the 16 editions, 14 have been won by major champions, a testament to the golfers’ claim that this is ‘Asia’s Major’. The 2024 field featured a diverse field, with players from 22 nationalities, including 20 Major champions and 8 of the world’s top 10.
The 72-hole stroke play tournament will again be played on the Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, which hosts its 12th edition.
