By: Max Bechtoldt
A week removed from one of the lowest cut lines in LPGA History, we now have the highest since 2020 as every player better than +9 made the initial cut in the T-Mobile Match Play.
Currently, there’s a four-way tie for first place in Las Vegas between Carlota Ciganda, Rose Zhang, Sei Young Kim and Angel Yin. Zhang stepped on the 17 tee with a two-stroke advantage at -6, but bogeyed her final two holes.
The overall lead isn’t necessarily what matters though, as getting into the top eight is the real goal of the first few days. After today’s round the field will be cut from 67 all the way down to the top eight golfers, who will then play a match-play tournament to determine the winner.
At the moment, there are 23 players within three strokes of that mark, and with the afternoon conditions we have already seen this week, going out earlier in the morning could be an advantage. In the afternoon Thursday, not a single player shot an under par round, and 17 players overall shot 80 or higher.
Currently, the players inside of the top eight are Zhang, Ciganda, Yin, Kim, Minami Katsu, Leona Maguire, Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Yuka Saso.
The final stroke play round of the T-Mobile Match Play begins on Peacock today at 5:30 PM est., and Golf Channel at 7:00.
