Minjee Lee is far from out of the Race to the CME Globe, but she has left herself work to do at the halfway point of the LPGA Tour Championship.
West Australian Lee entered the week ranked second, but fell to third in the season-long points race after her second-round 75 in Naples, Florida, today.
Lee, a model of consistency all year long, uncharacteristically couldn’t find a birdie on the back nine and four bogeys dropped her to one over par and down the standings in the running to win the $1million bonus pool on offer.
American Lexi Thompson shot to the 36-hole lead when she carded a 67 to add to her opening 65 to sit 12 under overall.
But Thompson is not a factor in the Globe standings, with only five women in the running for the big prize.
Fortunately for Lee, her nearest rivals on that front did not make any substantial moves, either.
Money list leader Ariya Jutanugarn regained the Globe projected lead with her three under total enough to have moved past first-round challenger Nasa Hataoka, who fell to a 76 after her opening 64, dropping her to fourth overall.
The positive move came from Canadian Brooke Henderson, who leapt past Lee to second on the projected rankings with her second-round 69.
Korean Sung-huyn Park, the only other possible winner, also stumbled with a 73 to remain fifth in the Globe chase.
In the more rudimentary tournament standings, Katherine Kirk is the best of the Australians at two under and a share of 25th, Hannah Green is even par, while Su Oh is two over and Sarah Jane Smith is six over.
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