HSBC Women’s World Championship: Olympic champion Lydia Ko one shot off lead at Sentosa

Kiwi three-time major champion improves on first-round score to go one shot behind Kim A-lim, and hopes to improve her record in Singapore

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Lydia Ko of New Zealand on her way to a round-two 67 at the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:40pm, 28 Feb 2025Updated: 8:30pm, 28 Feb 2025

Lydia Ko has one of the most impressive CVs in golf, and while it does not yet include an HSBC Women’s World Championship title, that could well change after her second round on Friday.

The Olympic champion carded a five-under-par 67 in Singapore to move to within one shot of overnight leader Kim A-lim, of South Korea, whose 69 took her to seven under for the tournament.

Kim’s compatriot Kim Hyo-joo had the joint-lowest round of the day, with a six-under 66 leaving her in a tie for third alongside Charley Hull at five under.

For Ko, the score represented a significant improvement on her opening 71, but the New Zealander said there had only been marginal differences in her bogey-free round.

“I played very solid yesterday but didn’t hit as many greens, which obviously leads to a lot of grinding out there,” Ko said. “But I hit my irons a lot better, and I feel like my game has been trending in the right direction.”

Lydia Ko said her score improved from the first round through hitting more greens on Friday. Photo: AFP

Still, Ko does not have a great record at Sentosa Golf Club, and the three-time major champion’s tie for seventh in 2021 was her best finish at the tournament since coming second six years earlier.