After an incredible 13 birdies and an eagle in the scramble format on day one, foursomes was the order of the day for Leona Maguire and Lucas Glover in round two of the Grant Thornton Invitational at Florida’s Tiburon Golf Club.
Although they opened with a birdie at the par-5 first, it would be the only birdie of the opening nine holes and bogeys at five and seven saw them slip down the leaderboard. A birdie at 10 took them back to level-par for the day, and then a birdie blitz arrived as they’d reel off three in succession on 13, 14 and 15 and claw their way back up the board.
They’d par their way home to post -18 and remain tied for second alongside Korda and Finau, two strokes behind the new leading duo of Jason Day and Lydia Ko.
“I think it was pretty simple,” Glover said when asked about the back nine turnaround. “We hit it closer and made a few more putts. Not to be that guy, but I didn’t hit it very close on the front and I didn’t give her many opportunities, and then we both did on the back and just played better. She hit a great shot, a lot of great shots. I hit a couple. I had a putt on 16 I’d like to have back, but don’t get them back.
“Yeah, we just played better on the back. And I think I can speak for both of us, we both hit it a little better.”
Despite being a partnership that was thrown together by the organisers, they’ve gelled well and Glover’s length is something that Maguire has enjoyed having the benefit of.
“He hits it very straight off the tee for hitting it that long,” Maguire remarked, “and approach shots are really nice. Yeah, he rolls it well. Overall there’s not really anything you can pick holes in. I think it’s so impressive. These guys on the PGA TOUR, they’re so, so good. It’s been impressive to watch up close these past couple days. Ludvig [Aberg], Lucas, Tony [Finau] today, yeah, it’s very impressive to watch.”
Maguire and Glover will be in the penultimate group for the modified fourball final round which sees each player tee off and play their own ball from there, and they’ll be joined by Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler.
Thompson had the moment of the day in round two when she aced the par-3 16th which helped them shoot -4 on the day and reach -16 overall. Two behind Maguire and Glover and Korda and Finau, and four shy of Ko and Day.
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