PEDERSEN STICKS TO PLAN

Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen stuck to her game plan this morning with the Race to Costa Del Sol leader firing a consistent round of 72 (+1) in wet and windy conditions, to add to her first round of 71 at the AIG Women’s Open.

She is currently two-shots adrift of the clubhouse lead, held by Sweden’s Daniella Holmqvist and one behind American Austin Ernst.

After a near miss in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open last week, the former Solheim Cup player has been turning heads again with her impressive displays on the links, highlighted today with a birdie on the famous ‘Postage Stamp’ 8th hole.

“I hit it probably 20 feet past and then it spun back a yard or two and then holed the putt. So that was good. It was important to get the momentum back.”

Another birdie at the 9th meant the Dane briefly got to red numbers, only for a double-bogey on the par three 14th hole to temporarily halt her progress.

All week at Royal Troon one of the main story lines has been the role of the caddie, on and off the course, and with the heavy rain and winds of up to 35mph common place, Pedersen was quick to compliment her bagman.

“The caddie is always important, but on a day like this, it’s just nice that all my focus can be on staying dry and trying to get ready for the shot. We did a good job today and I was really happy about that.”

Five-time LET champion Lydia Ko is alongside Pedersen at one-over-par for the tournament, the 23-year-old Kiwi looks to be swinging it somewhere close to her best.

“I feel like every competitive round I get in, there’s a bit more confidence that builds in. It’s like the saying where, you know, just even like an 18-handicapper, that one shot brings me back up for tomorrow; and I really think it’s the same for me. That one good shot that you feel, that’s the shot I want to emulate on the next hole or tomorrow.”

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew continues to fly the flag for Scotland, she heads to the turn in level par for the day in T2.

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