ANA Miss Motivates Burnett

Katie Burnett missed qualifying for the ANA Inspiration this year and has used that as motivation heading into this week’s LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY.

“it was motivating not to get into ANA,” Burnett admitted. “Disappointing, but also motivating to go home and be at home watching a tournament when I thought I should have been there.”

Burnett made the most of her time at home in Brunswick, Ga., getting to practice in windy conditions.

“I worked really hard on that knock-down,” Burnett explained. “Basically just tried to come out here and be committed.”

While the wind may bother some players, Burnett seems to strive in it.

“Honestly, I like the wind,” Burnett said. “I’m from the coast, so I actually prefer to play when it’s a little windy. I think actually probably if you look at my finishes, probably have played better in those tournaments that have been windy because it makes you be really committed. You have to make a decision and go with it and be committed, otherwise the wind is going to wreak havoc on the ball.”

Megan Khang Goes Low

Megan Khang had the round of the day, an 8-under 64, to climb from T90 into a tie for seventh entering the final two rounds.

“I think I gave myself a lot more chances today,” Khang said. “Yesterday I had trouble finding the green, but today I found the green and I was able to hit some close ones. Right off the bat, No. 1, I was able to tap in a birdie putt. I think the key today was giving myself chances and executing the putts.”

Making Khang’s feat even more impressive is the fact that she sat right on the cutline of 2-over with only eight holes left to play before she ran off an impressive streak of six birdies in her final seven holes.

“After back-to-back bogeys on 9 and 10, my dad was like, C’mon, Megan. We got to turn it around here,” Khang explained. “Okay, okay, okay. Like, I know dad. I know. So went on a pretty hot run, and thankfully had a good finish. I’m excited for the weekend, or Friday, Saturday.”

Thompson and Salas Make Day Two Charges

Lexi Thompson and Lizette Salas fired matching rounds of 66 to move from T77 into a tie for 10th at the LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY.

“Yeah, a lot different than yesterday,” Thompson said. “Yesterday was just a struggle on the greens. Don’t really know what was going on. I hit it great yesterday. Just the hole seemed like a penny size. But today it was overall very solid day out there.”

Salas echoed Thompson’s comments.

“I just erased the round from yesterday,” Salas explained. “We knew the problem was I wasn’t getting close, so I really wanted to be aggressive whenever I had a short iron. Just read some putts really well; stayed out of trouble. Made it interesting on 9 when I missed the green, but I got up and down. So really feel good. Really feel good off the tee. I can see my shots and visualize a lot better and I’m staying patient out there, which was much needed today. This whole week. This wind is gnarly.”

The duo will head into the weekend seven shots back of Minjee Lee.

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