Kim builds a two-shot lead in LPGA Tour Championship

Sei Young Kim set a goal of winning three times this year on the LPGA Tour, and she's down to her last chance.

Reaching the goal would pay off big at the CME Group Tour Championship.

Kim scrambled to keep bogeys off her card Thursday along the back nine at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., and then she pulled away from the pack with one big shot. Her approach on the par-5 17th narrowly stayed on the fringe of the green, and she holed the 12-foot eagle putt that carried her to a 7-under 65 and a two-shot lead in the final LPGA Tour event of the year.

The winner gets $1.5 million, the richest prize in the history of women's golf.

"This tournament really special," Kim said. "But I try to just make myself comfortable. I don't put any extra pressure on myself."

Nelly Korda, the highest-ranked American at No. 3 in the world ranking, did her best to make sure Kim didn't get too far away, even after one round. She birdied the par-3 16th, holed a 35-foot eagle putt from just off the 17th green and closed with a 20-foot birdie. That took her from middle of the pack to a 67, leaving her two shots behind.

So Yeon Ryu and Georgia Hall, both past major champions, also were at 67.

That's the effect of $1.5 million, which dwarfs the $1 million payoff at the U.S. Women's Open, won by Jeongeun Lee6. The next-biggest check in women's golf was $675,000 at the Women's British Open.

The change this year at the Tour Championship is that all 60 players who qualified get the $1.5 million if they win the tournament. Previously, it was based on points from earned all season, and only the top 12 were given a shot at the $1 million bonus.

Defending champion Lexi Thompson made consecutive bogeys on the back nine and had to settle for a 70.