Ko chases record-setting Evian leader Lee6

Lydia Ko fired an impressive second round of 6-under par 65 at the fourth golf major of 2021 but still finds herself six shots behind a recordequalling leader Jeongeun Lee6.

Ko shook off an early bogey and made seven birdies in 12 holes to be fourth at the Evian Championship in France — the tournament where she won her first major in 2015.

Lee6 tied the golf majors record for the lowest round ever when she carded a 10-under-par 61, equalling countrywoman Hyo Joo Kim, who shot the lowest score by a female or male in a major in the first round in 2014, also at the picturesque Evian Resort on the shore of Lake Geneva.

Lee6 led at 15-under, three shots clear of Thai players Pajaree Anannarukarn — the co-overnight leader — and Ariya Jutanugarn, who carded an 8-under 63.

Ko, who opened with a 3-under par round, said she was initially despondent when she saw Lee6’s score after her own opening bogey.

“I felt like I was being lapped quite a few times at that point,” she said.

“But we've had such beautiful weather and the course is drying out, so a lot of our drives are going much further than any other times, and with shorter clubs coming in, it obviously makes it a little easier to attack the pins.

“I’ve been hitting the ball really well leading up to this week and [the first round] was kind of scrappy, but [the second round] felt like I hit it a lot better and my irons were good.”

Ko said her plan was to “play with trust and conviction and just hit it aggressively and just believe in myself and enjoy it”.