ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Nelly Korda seems to be back to normal most dominant in the home of golf.

The top-ranked American also braved the stormier conditions at St. Andrews to shoot a bogey-free 4-under-par 68 in the second round on Friday to take a three-shot lead in the Women’s British Open.

Korda won the first women’s major tournament of 2024 – the Chevron Championship in April – and is on track to win the last one as well. She has also won five other titles in a year that has cemented her status as the best player in women’s tennis, even if she has lost her top form in recent months.

Worse for Korda’s rivals is that she is also warming to links golf.

“I’ve won this year in general on so many different types of grass and in so many different conditions that you always have to adapt,” said Korda, who finished the tournament at 8 under par. “It’s the same in tennis, it’s the same in life.”

“You’re always adapting to the situation and I think that’s what makes links golf so fun – you literally start 30 yards to the left of your target and I’m not a fader player but I hit massive fades. I think it’s fun to hit those little low drivers too. I have fun and I enjoy links golf a lot.”

Korda played her first two rounds with defending champion Lilia Vu and England’s Charley Hull, a crowd favorite competing in her home major, and the star group lived up to expectations.

Hull, the Night Guide one stroke ahead after a first-round 67, shot even par and was tied for second place at 5 under par with Vu, who shot 70.

On a day when the wind was not quite as brutal as the first, they lost to Korda, but Hull went into the weekend optimistic.

“Only three shots behind – that’s nothing for the weekend, especially on this golf course,” said 10th-seeded Hull, who is seeking her first major title. “I missed a lot of putts. I think Nelly had 30 putts and I had 36 putts. So that’s six putts I lost on the green against her.”

Ruoning Yin, last year’s winner of the Women’s PGA Championship from China, shot 72 and was alone in fourth place at 4 under par.

Olympic champion Lydia Ko shot a 70 and was one of six players at 3 under par at the halfway point – five strokes behind the leader. Also in that group was Swedish amateur Louise Rydqvist, who shot a 67.

Players who missed the cut included No. 3 Jin Young Ko (10 over), No. 5 Hannah Green (7 over), a two-time major winner, No. 13 Minjee Lee (9 over) and No. 14 Lauren Coughlin (6 over), who won two of her last three starts, including the Scottish Open last week.

Korda started one stroke behind Hull, who bogeyed two of her first five holes after the group began on hole 10, and fell further behind as the American holed long putts and made birdies on both holes 17 and 18 for the second consecutive day.

Playing with a new putter, Korda made another birdie on the par-5 fifth hole. He then needed two putts from the fringe for birdie on the ninth hole after nearly reaching the green. Vu and Hull also made birdie on the final hole to stay three shots back and in the match.

Korda looks set to improve on her previous best finish at the Women’s British Open – ninth in 2019 – which is her only top-10 finish at the major.

“I’m just trying to stay present and not think about anything other than one shot at a time,” said Korda, who has won two majors. “And whatever golf and links golf has in store for me, I’m going to tackle it head on.”

___

AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf