- Liu cards rare albatross on 505-yard par 5
- Four players trail by 1 stroke in crowded leaderboard
- Defending champion Korda switches putter to avoid elimination
The Woodlands, Texas witnessed extraordinary drama at the Chevron Championship as 27-year-old Yan Liu demonstrated remarkable resilience. After Thursday's fog-delayed start created scheduling challenges, Liu's second-round 72 revealed why course management proves critical at this Jack Nicklaus-designed layout.
Liu's tournament-defining moment came at the downwind 8th hole, where her 7-iron approach from 175 yards found the cup - marking only the third albatross in championship history. This rare feat (estimated 6 million-to-1 odds for professionals) temporarily offset three front-nine bogeys, though the emotional rollercoaster continued through her closing holes.
Four contenders sit poised at -7, including former major winner Hyo Joo Kim and resurgent American Lindy Duncan. Equipment changes emerged as a subplot, with world #1 Nelly Korda crediting her putter swap for Friday's 68: When your confidence wavers, tactile changes can reset mental frameworks,noted the defending champion.
Regional conditions significantly impacted play, with dense Bermuda rough punishing errant shots. Liu's 17th-hole bogey exemplified this challenge, her tee shot sinking into the wiry grass that consumes 22% more approach shots than tour average. Course superintendent data reveals these Southern grasses grow 1.5x faster in April humidity, creating daily layout variations.
Part-time competitor Lexi Thompson's 67 highlighted evolving player strategies, with the 2014 champion noting: Modern tour demands require balancing competitive fire with personal well-being.Her performance underscores a growing trend - 17% of LPGA players now maintain limited schedules for longevity.
As Saturday's moving day approaches, all eyes remain on Liu's emotional management. Sports psychologists emphasize the Texas heat's cognitive impacts, with decision fatigue costing 0.3 strokes per hour after 1pm CT. With 14 players within four strokes, Sunday's finale promises a masterclass in major championship pressure.