European Solheim Cup representatives Lottie Woad and Charley Hull found themselves trailing the leading pack by six strokes at the LPGA Tour's FM Championship, while their American counterpart Allisen Corpuz shared the top spot as the weekend approached. The English pair were tied for 27th place, both sitting at three under par after the first round. Woad, who had shown promise early on, slipped back with a one‑over 73, whereas Hull posted a solid two‑under 70 to keep her in contention. Meanwhile, Corpuz delivered an impressive 67, catapulting herself into a joint lead alongside Japan's rising star Miyu Yamashita and South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, each sitting at nine under par.
Yamashita, fresh off a victory the previous week on the LPGA Tour, continued to demonstrate her form, having tied the tour’s 72‑hole scoring record with a nine‑under performance at the CPKC Women’s Open just five days earlier. In the second round she added another two‑under round to maintain her nine‑under total, while Corpuz and Kim each recorded five‑under rounds on Friday, solidifying their positions near the summit of the leaderboard. Other notable performers included Morgane Metraux and Ruoning Yin, both carding 65s, and Jenny Bae with a 68, each finishing just a stroke shy of the leaders.
Nataliya Guseva and Emily Kristine Pedersen posted rounds of 68 and 72 respectively, both ending the day at seven under par. First‑round leader Sei Young Kim, after an opening 64, stumbled with a 74 in the second round, dropping three strokes behind the leaders. In related news, World No. 1 Nelly Korda recorded a second consecutive 72‑hole round, comfortably making the cut at the final pre‑Solheim Cup event in the Netherlands, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports starting September 11.
European captain Anna Nordqvist also advanced to the weekend stage in what will be her final competitive appearance before retirement. The Swedish veteran rebounded from an opening 74 with a resilient 68, showcasing the experience that has helped her lead the European side. On the other side of the Atlantic, South African golfer Casandra Alexander extended her lead at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open with a second‑round 66, moving to an impressive 15 under par for the tournament. Alexander had opened the event with a remarkable nine‑under 63 on Thursday, setting a new record for the Palmer South Course at The K Club.
Her momentum continued as she opened the second round with an eagle‑birdie‑birdie sequence on holes 10, 11, and 12. After a 32‑stroke front nine, she added another eagle on the third hole of the back nine, followed by a bogey on the sixth and a birdie on the seventh, finishing the round six under par. She now leads Sara Kouskova (66) and Brianna Navarrosa (65) by five strokes.
Alexander reflected on her performance, noting, "Not as tidy as yesterday. I left some putts right in the throat and had some awkward wedge numbers.
But overall pretty good. It was always going to be hard to follow up yesterday's round. Sometimes that's really difficult to get two days really flowing and going. Two eagles helped the situation.
Six‑under, I'm very happy." In the Irish contingent, Canice Screene emerged as the top Irish player, tied for eighth after a flurry of birdies on seven of her final twelve holes, posting a 67. Leona Maguire, another Irish hopeful, was tied for 26th after posting a second consecutive one‑under‑par 71.
Fans can follow the action from the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the FM Championship throughout the weekend via Sky Sports’ live coverage, which will also feature additional golf news, leaderboards, and video highlights. The weekend schedule includes a live broadcast from Ireland starting at 2:30 pm on Saturday on Sky Sports Golf. For those without a contract, streaming options are available through NOW, offering flexible access to the tournament.
Beyond the competition, golf enthusiasts are encouraged to explore the extensive network of over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. By entering a course name, city, or postal code, players can discover the best pricing and booking options for a round of golf, ensuring that the excitement of the professional tour can be experienced on local greens as well. Overall, the FM Championship continues to showcase a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, each vying for a spot in the upcoming Solheim Cup.
With the European squad looking to close the gap on the dominant United States team, performances from Hull, Woad, and their compatriots will be closely watched. Meanwhile, the KPMG Women’s Irish Open provides a dramatic backdrop for players like Alexander to demonstrate why they are considered among the world’s elite.
The weekend promises high‑stakes golf, compelling storylines, and plenty of opportunities for fans to engage with the sport both on television and on the course.