The defending champion Georgia Hall fired a second successive 69 to move to six-under-par on day two of the AIG Women’s British Open and sits just two shots behind the clubhouse leader, Lizette Salas.
Huge galleries followed her group for 18 holes this morning and she said afterwards that the support provided a huge boost.
“I loved it. I had an early start so it was a quick turnaround. The weather was really good and not much wind. Again, massive crowds. It’s great fun and I’m just trying to play well for all the guys out there, as well.”
Hall birdied the second hole and then holed her bunker shot from the side of the eighth green for a “cheeky birdie.”
“I’m quite confident on bunker shots green-side and I hit it where I wanted to,” she said.
Another birdie followed on the par-4 ninth hole, where she sank a turning 15-footer, but she dropped a shot at the short 17th where she snap hooked a shot off the tee.
She completed her round with a chip and a putt for par in front of the large gallery.
“I’m playing better golf but it’s awesome to be at home playing in England and having those people come out and support me,” said last year’s winner at Royal Lytham.
“I’m very excited, and hopefully even more people come out tomorrow. Four rounds of golf is a very long time, especially mentally and being at your home tournament, it’s a bit more. I’ve got that experience, and the pressure I dealt with very good last year, so hopefully tomorrow when I go on the tee, I won’t be that nervous.”
The last player to win back-to-back AIG Women’s British Open titles was Yani Tseng, at Royal Birkdale in 2010 and Carnoustie in 2011. Prior to that, Sherri Steinhauer won at Royal Lytham in 1998 and Woburn in 1999 and Debbie Massey won at Wentworth in 1980 and then in Northumberland in 1981.
