It’s been a tough start for Danielle Kang on her home course at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play. One day after losing 7 and 5 to two-time Olympian Kelly Tan, Kang fell to Eun-Hee Ji in the second day of round-robin matches at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
Ji now moves to 2-0 in the tournament. The 2009 U.S. Women’s Open winner needs to win this week to play her way into the 2022 Women’s Open field at Pine Needles.
The field of 64 has been divided into 16 groups of four, and after three days of round-robin matches, the competition will move to a 16-player, single-elimination bracket.
Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play: Leaderboard
Kang, who withdrew from the Lotte Championship as well as the new Palos Verdes event with back pain, took several weeks off from competition to rest and rebab.
“I don’t really know how to answer these questions right now,” Kang said after the first round when asked about her health. “I’m not ready to play.”
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Kang, who is currently No. 11 in the world, lives in Las Vegas and counts MGM as a sponsor, two factors that were key to her teeing it up this week. A healthy Kang, a two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and Solheim Cup stalwart, would’ve been on the short list of favorites this week.
“I’m just doing everything I can off the golf course to get me through the days and to get back to where I was, and it’s going to take some time,” said Kang. “It’s going to take some patience and time for everybody. I just need to thank my team for getting me here. It’s a little win that I have to take right now.”
Kang will face Pajaree Anannarukarn in Friday’s round.
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