AFP, Miami :
Lexi Thompson fired a four-under par 68 on Saturday to take a commanding three-shot lead over Nelly Korda in the LPGA’s season-ending Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
Thompson made four of her five birdies on the back nine at Tiburon Golf Club to put herself in position for a first win of 2018.
“Golf is all about momentum,” said Thompson, who can expunge the memory of a missed two-footer that cost her victory here last year.
“I just tried to keep the same attitude as I did the last two days,” said Thompson, adding that having her brother, Curtis, on her bag had kept things relaxed.
“He’s always cracking jokes out there,” she said. “It’s been a nice, relaxing week just having him on the bag and having all my family and friends out here supporting me.”
A victory would extend Thompson’s streak to six straight LPGA seasons with at least one win.
Her 16-under total of 200 put her three clear of Korda, who had eight birdies in her five-under 67. It was a further three shots back to Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who had three birdies without a bogey in her three-under 69.
World number one and defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn goes into the final round 10 adrift, but she’s still in position to claim the $1 million bonus for winning the LPGA’s Race to the CME Globe season-long points chase for the second time in three years.
