Jeeno Thitikul Extends Lead at Women’s PGA Championship Texas

Jeeno Thitikul, the world No. 2 from Thailand, is leading the Women's PGA Championship after two rounds with a score of 6-under 138, extending her lead to three strokes amidst challenging heat and strong winds at Fields Ranch East in Texas. Thitikul, aged 22 and chasing her first major title, showed resilience by recovering from a double bogey in the first round to shoot a 68, followed by a 70 that included back-to-back birdies to close the second round. Australian Minjee Lee and Japan's Rio Takeda are trailing three strokes behind, with Lee struggling with the difficult wind conditions affecting club selection and ball trajectory. Semi-retired American Lexi Thompson is also in contention, positioned four strokes behind Thitikul after consistent play, while top-ranked Nelly Korda is four over par for the tournament. Players noted the extreme Texas heat and gusty winds as major challenges, with only a handful of golfers breaking par over the two rounds. Thitikul emphasized patience and focus as key to navigating the tough conditions, highlighting her steady putting as crucial to her current lead.