Boutier opens 4-shot lead at Tiburon

NAPLES, Fla. — What looked to be a wide-open race for the richest prize in women's golf is now in the hands of Celine Boutier, who made seven birdies over the last 10 holes for a 7-under 65 and a four-shot lead Friday in the CME Group Tour Championship.

For so much of the wind-blown second round, a dozen or so players were separated by one shot at Tiburon Golf Club. That included Nelly Korda and Jin Young Ko, four-time winners this year in a battle for LPGA player of the year.

Over the final two hours, Boutier left them all in her wake in the chase for the $1.5 million prize.

She was at 14-under 130, four ahead of Gaby Lopez of Mexico (68), Evian Championship winner Minjee Lee of Australia (68) and Mina Harigae (69).

Korda, who has a 10-point lead over Ko in the race for player of the year, was in the group five shots behind after having to settle for a 69. Ko had a 67 and was in the group six shots behind. Boutier's 66 matched the low score of the second round. Danielle Kang also had a 66.

Lexi Thompson had a few tap-in birdies to atone for two bogeys in her round of 69 to reach 8-under 136.

PGA Tour

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — A strong wind off the Atlantic Ocean swept over

Sea Island, and it was no problem for Talor Gooch of Oklahoma as he handled the exposed Seaside course for a 5-under 65 to take a one-shot lead in the RSM Classic. Gooch matched the low score of the round and was at 13-under 129. He was one shot ahead of John Huh, who had a 67 at Plantation, and Sebastian Munoz, who went from a 60 at Seaside to a 70 in the second round at Plantation. Taylor Moore and Mackenzie Hughes of Canada (68 at Seaside) were two shots behind.

European Tour

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Collin Morikawa got a big stroke of fortune at the DP World Tour Championship. Rory Mcilroy felt he got no luck at all.

An up-and-down for par followed by a final-hole birdie saw British Open champion Morikawa shoot a second straight 4-under 68, leaving him three shots off the lead.

Mcilroy, the first-round leader after an opening 65, reached the 18th tee with a one-stroke advantage despite hitting only five of 13 fairways to that point. He drove left into a bunker and his third shot kicked left short of the green and dribbled into the water.

A double-bogey 7 completed a round of 70 which saw him fall out of the lead, held jointly by Shane Lowry (65), John Catlin (65) and Sam Horsfield (66) on 10 under par.

DOUGLAS P. DEFELICE/GETTY IMAGES Celine Boutier lines up a putt on the 17th green during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on Friday in Naples, Fla.