A year ago, they were battling each other to win Rolex Player of the Year honors.
Now, they’re battling together to make cuts.
World No. 3 Ariya Jutanugarn struggled to a 7-over-par 78 on Friday at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and missed the cut by 11 shots. She opened with a 76 on Thursday.
Jutanguarn has now failed to make the weekend in five of her last six LPGA starts. She was the defending champion in Canada this week.
World No. 5 Lydia Ko shot 75 on Friday and also missed the cut. It is Ko’s third missed cut in her last 14 starts, her second in her last three. She missed the cut at the Ladies Scottish Open at the end of July, made the cut on the number the following week at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, and missed the cut by two shots in Canada this week, with a double bogey and bogey over her final three holes.
When Ko missed the cut at the Kia Classic in March, it marked just her second MC in 95 LPGA starts.
Jutanugarn has complained of pain in her right shoulder this year, which was surgically repaired in the summer of 2013, but she told media Wednesday in Canada that it was getting better.
“I feel better,” she said. “I know I’m struggling the last few tournaments, and I’m just working on that and trying to be more calm.”
Over her last 13 rounds, Jutanugarn has posted rounds of 77 or higher six times.
Ko made a whirlwind of changes coming into this season, starting the year with new equipment, a new caddie and a new coach. She told media in Canada on Wednesday she believes she is making progress despite her struggles to get into contention.
“There are a lot of positive things going on,” Ko said. “So, I’m trying to keep my head high and keep working on my game. With golf, you feel like everything’s going good, but it just doesn’t click. So, I’m hoping for it to kind of click soon.”
Jutanugarn and Ko combined to win nine LPGA titles last year. Jutanugarn’s victory at the Manulife Classic in June is the lone victory between the two of them this year.
Source: Internet
