European Solheim Cup hopefuls Lottie Woad and Charley Hull find themselves trailing the leaders by six strokes at the LPGA Tour's FM Championship, where American contender Allisen Corpuz shares the top spot as the weekend approaches. The English pair are currently tied for 27th place, sitting three under par after a mixed start: Woad dropped from a promising opening round with a one‑over 73, while Hull posted a solid two‑under 70.
In contrast, Corpuz carded an impressive 67, joining Japan's hot‑streaking Miyu Yamashita and South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, all sitting at nine under par. Yamashita, fresh off a historic performance that tied the LPGA’s 72‑hole scoring record with a nine‑under victory at the CPKC Women’s Open just five days earlier, continued her strong play with a two‑under second round to maintain her nine‑under total. Corpuz and Kim each recorded five‑under rounds on Friday, keeping them firmly in contention. Other notable performers include Morgane Metraux and Ruoning Yin, both posting 65s, and Jenny Bae with a 68, each just one stroke shy of the leaders.
Nataliya Guseva and Emily Kristine Pedersen both stood at seven under after posting rounds of 68 and 72 respectively. First‑round leader Sei Young Kim, after an opening 64, faltered with a 74 on day two, slipping three strokes behind the pack.
The tournament’s coverage extends beyond the fairways, offering streaming options without a contract and the latest LPGA headlines and video highlights. Golf enthusiasts can also keep track of real‑time leaderboards and scores, and find out when the next live broadcast will appear on Sky Sports. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who is set to compete in the final Solheim Cup event in the Netherlands beginning September 11, secured her place in the weekend’s play by making the cut exactly on the number with a second straight 72.
Her consistent performance underscores her readiness for the upcoming team competition. European captain Anna Nordqvist, who will retire after the Solheim Cup, also advanced to the weekend. The Swedish veteran recovered from an opening 74 with a tidy 68, demonstrating the resilience that has defined her career.
Meanwhile, in Ireland, South African golfer Casandra Alexander extended her lead at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open to five strokes after a stellar second‑round 66, bringing her total to 15 under par. Alexander began the tournament with a record‑setting nine‑under 63 on Thursday at the Palmer South Course at The K Club, and continued her aggressive play with an eagle‑birdie‑birdie stretch on holes 10 through 12. After a front‑nine of 32, 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, solidifying her dominance. Alexander currently enjoys a five‑stroke cushion over Sara Kouskova (66) and Brianna Navarrosa (65).
Reflecting on her round, Alexander remarked, "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 local player, tied for eighth after a remarkable finish that saw her birdie seven of her final twelve holes, posting a 67. Leona Maguire sat tied for 26th after recording a second consecutive one‑under 71.
Fans can watch the ongoing action at both the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the FM Championship throughout the weekend via Sky Sports’ live coverage, which continues on Saturday from 2:30 pm. For those looking to tee off themselves, Sky Sports offers deals on more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.
Users can search by course, city, or postal code to find the perfect venue. Overall, the FM Championship showcases a compelling mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, each vying for a spot in the upcoming Solheim Cup. With the leaderboard tightly packed and several players just a few strokes away from the lead, the weekend promises high drama and potential shifts in momentum heading into the prestigious team event. The combination of strong individual performances, strategic play, and the looming Solheim Cup adds an extra layer of excitement for both players and fans alike.