Photo Credit: LPGA
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Lottie Woad produced one of Friday’s best rounds to seize the lead after two rounds of the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship. The English star fired a brilliant 7-under 64 at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. Her outstanding performance moved her to 11-under par, giving her a one-shot advantage entering the weekend. Woad entered the day trailing first-round leader Aki Iwai. However, she stayed aggressive throughout her round and climbed past the Japanese golfer with steady ball-striking and confident putting. Woad also continued the strong form she showed last year, when she finished one shot short of forcing a playoff at the Evian Championship.
Iwai remained firmly in contention despite surrendering the lead. She completed her second round at 10-under par, only one stroke behind Woad. Earlier in the day, Iwai appeared ready to pull away from the field. She stretched her advantage to five shots after another fast start, building on her opening-round 63. One of Iwai’s biggest highlights came at the picturesque par-3 second hole. She nearly recorded a hole-in-one after hitting her tee shot within inches of the cup. The tap-in birdie helped extend her early advantage and showcased the remarkable form she has displayed throughout the tournament.
Several contenders stayed within striking distance. Mao Saigo and Haeran Ryu shared third place at 8-under par after two rounds. Jeeno Thitikul, Miyu Yamashita, Nastasia Nadaud and Charley Hull shared fifth place at 6-under par. With 36 holes remaining, the leaderboard remains packed with major champions and rising stars. Ryu added one of Friday’s biggest moments on the par-5 15th. She holed an eagle putt from off the green to reach 8-under. The recent KPMG Women’s PGA champion continued her excellent return after taking six weeks away from competition before winning that major.
Thitikul also made a significant move up the leaderboard. The world No. 2 posted a bogey-free 7-under 64, matching Woad for the lowest round among the leaders. She dominated the par-5 holes, playing them in 5-under par with three birdies and an eagle on the seventh hole. As a result, she positioned herself well for a weekend run at her first major championship. Hull also remained in contention after another steady performance. Her tournament turned around after a difficult opening stretch on Thursday. Back-to-back birdies late in her first round shifted her momentum, and she continued that strong play into Friday. Hull even joked afterward that her caddie’s ice cream during the round may have brought some good luck.
Meanwhile, Maria Jose Marin delivered one of Friday’s biggest improvements. The 2025 NCAA champion and 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner bounced back from a disappointing opening round with a superb 66. She improved by eight shots and climbed into the top 30 at 3-under par. Marin said her first round failed to reflect how well she had been playing before arriving in France. Hannah Green also continued her recovery after an early struggle. She opened the tournament 4-over through her first seven holes on Thursday. However, she refused to let the slow start derail her week. Green responded with five birdies during the remainder of her opening round and stayed within striking distance entering the weekend.
The biggest story on Friday centered around world No. 1 Nelly Korda. She entered the second round needing a low score after a disappointing opening day. Unfortunately, putting problems continued to haunt the American throughout her round. Korda fought hard to stay above the projected cut line. She made several key pars early and briefly reached even par for her round. However, she struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, especially on the par-5 holes.
Late in the round, Korda still controlled her fate. She needed to finish at even par for the tournament to secure a weekend tee time. Instead, costly missed putts prevented her from making the necessary birdies. Her best remaining chance came on the par-5 18th. After driving just off the fairway, she laid up because of a difficult lie. Her third shot from 86 yards settled about 14 feet from the hole. Needing a birdie, Korda left the putt short and settled for par.
That result left Korda at 1-over par, one shot outside the cut line. She officially missed the cut for the first time on the LPGA Tour in two years. The early exit ended what many expected would become another major championship challenge. Korda entered the week with history within reach. A victory would have completed the career Grand Slam and secured her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame. Instead, she will watch the final two rounds from outside the ropes.
Friday also featured one of the tournament’s most incredible shots. Mi Hyang Lee produced an unforgettable approach on the par-5 18th. Her ball skipped across the water before reaching the green, creating one of the week’s most remarkable highlights. Lee converted the opportunity into a birdie that moved her closer to the cut line. After two rounds, Woad leads at 11-under, followed by Iwai at 10-under. Saigo and Ryu sit at 8-under, while Thitikul, Yamashita, Nadaud and Hull share fifth at 6-under. Korda finished tied for 67th at 1-over and missed the cut.
The 132-player field competes for a record purse of $9.1 million, an increase from $8 million last year. With many of the world’s best golfers still in contention, the final two rounds promise an exciting battle for one of women’s golf’s biggest major championships.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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