European Solheim Cup representatives Lottie Woad and Charley Hull find themselves six strokes behind the leaders at the LPGA Tour's FM Championship, while their American counterpart Allisen Corpuz shares the top spot as the weekend approaches. The English pair are currently tied for 27th place, each sitting at three-under-par after the first round. Woad, after a promising start, slipped back with a one-over 73, whereas Hull posted a solid two-under 70. In contrast, Corpuz delivered an impressive 67, joining Japan's rising star Miyu Yamashita—who captured last week's LPGA Tour title—and South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, both sitting at nine under and sharing the lead.
Yamashita remains in contention just five days after she equaled the tour's 72‑hole scoring record with a nine‑under victory at the CPKC Women’s Open. She added a two‑under 68 in the second round to maintain her nine‑under total, while Corpuz and Kim each recorded five‑under rounds on Friday, keeping the leaderboard tightly packed. Trailing the leaders by a single stroke were Morgane Metraux and Ruoning Yin, both carding 65s, and Jenny Bae with a 68.
Nataliya Guseva and Emily Kristine Pedersen were seven under after posting 68 and 72 respectively. First‑round leader Sei Young Kim, after an opening 64, stumbled with a 74 and fell three strokes back. In other news, World No.
1 Nelly Korda posted her second consecutive 72‑stroke 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 secured a spot in the weekend’s action in what will be her last tournament before retirement; the Swedish veteran recovered from an opening 74 with a steady 68.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander has stretched her advantage to five strokes at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open after a spectacular second‑round 66, bringing her tournament total to 15 under par. Alexander opened the event 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 sequence on holes 10, 11, and 12. After a front‑nine of 32, she added a second eagle on the third hole, a bogey on the sixth, and a birdie on the seventh, demonstrating her ability to combine power and precision. She currently leads Sara Kouskova, who posted a 66, and Brianna Navarrosa, who recorded a 65, by a comfortable five‑stroke margin.
"Not as tidy as yesterday," Alexander commented, "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." On the Irish front, Canice Screene emerged as the top local player, tied for eighth after a clutch finish that featured birdies on seven of her final twelve holes, culminating in a 67. Leona Maguire sits tied for 26th after posting another one‑under‑par 71. Fans can follow the action at 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 without a contract, streaming options are available on NOW, and Sky Sports also offers a range of deals for viewers. Beyond the tournament highlights, golf enthusiasts are reminded that they can secure tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the Sky Sports platform. By entering a course name, city, or postal code, players can find the best rates and book their rounds, ensuring that the excitement of professional golf translates into opportunities for everyday players to experience the sport on premier venues.
Overall, the weekend promises a blend of high‑stakes competition, emerging talent, and seasoned veterans jockeying for position ahead of the upcoming Solheim Cup, making it a must‑watch for fans of women’s golf worldwide.