Hall eyeing second major victory

For the second time in as many months, history beckons Georgia Hall.

Six weeks after becoming the youngest home champion of the Women’s British Open, the 22-year-old from Bournemouth is in a tantalising position at the Evian Championship to launch a weekend challenge to become the first female from her country to win back-toback majors and just the second LPGA Tour rookie to achieve the feat.

At the French course on the shores of Lake Geneva, Hall, the world No 8, again carded a three-under 68. “I was quite happy with the way I played,” Hall said, following a round featuring four birdies and a bogey. “I was very steady and it wasn’t stressful. Yeah, I would prefer to be leading, but as long as I’m up there on the final day, then 18 holes is a lot of golf.”

Hall is only two off the halfway pace of eight under shared by Korean Mi Hyang Lee, Puerto Rico’s Maria Torres and US duo of Amy Olson and Mo Martin.

However, it was another American causing most tongues to wag. Lexi Thompson broke down in tears as she putted out for a 75 which left her one shot outside the cut on four over. The death of her grandmother and her mother’s cancer diagnosis prompted Thompson to step away from the game, missing the British Open. The 23-year-old has also been attempting to come to terms with a controversial fourstroke penalty which denied her a second major title at the ANA Inspiration.

On the European Tour, Jonathan Thomson, the Englishman, who, at 6ft 9½ is the tallest player ever to appear on a major circuit, shot a seven-under 64 in the second round of the KLM Open to move to second on nine under, three behind China’s Ashun Wu.