Nelly Korda regains dominant form to lead Women's British Open by 3 shots at the home of golf

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Nelly Korda looks to be back to her dominant best at the home of golf.

The top-ranked American mastered more blustery conditions at St. Andrews by shooting a bogey-free, 4-under 68 in the second round on Friday to take a three-stroke lead at the Women’s British Open.

Korda won the first women's major of 2024 — the Chevron Championship in April — and is on track to capture the last one, too. There have also been five more titles in a year when she has consolidated her status as the best player in the women’s game, even if her top form has deserted her in the last couple of months.

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

“This year in general, I’ve won on just so many different types of grasses, in different types of conditions, that you just kind of always have to adapt,” said Korda, who was 8-under par for the tournament. “That’s the same thing in tennis, same thing in life.

“You’re always adapting to your situations at hand, and I think that’s what’s so fun about links golf — you’re literally starting it 30 yards left of your target, and I’m not a fade player but I’m hitting massive fades. I think it’s fun hitting these little low drivers, too. I’m having fun, and I enjoy links golf a lot.”

Korda has played her first two rounds with defending champion Lilia Vu and England's Charley Hull, a crowd favorite playing in her home major, and the marquee group has lived up to its billing.

Hull, the overnight leader by one stroke after a first-round 67, shot even par and was tied for second place on 5 under with Vu, who shot 70.

They were outplayed by Korda on a day when the wind wasn't quite as brutal as Day 1, but Hull was bullish heading into the weekend.

“Only three shots behind — that’s nothing going into the weekend, especially on this golf course,” said the No. 10-ranked Hull, who is seeking her first major title. “I left a lot of putts out there. I think Nelly had 30 putts and I had 36 putts. So that’s six putts that I’ve lost to her on the greens.”

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

Olympic champion Lydia Ko shot a 70 and was one of six players on 3 under — five strokes off the lead — at the halfway point. In that group was Swedish amateur Louise Rydqvist, who shot 67.

Among the players to miss the cut were No. 3-ranked Jin Young Ko (10 over), No. 5-ranked Hannah Green (7 over), two-time major winner and No. 13-ranked Minjee Lee (9 over) and No. 14-ranked Lauren Coughlin (6 over), who won two of her previous three starts including at the Scottish Open last week.

Korda started out a stroke behind Hull, who bogeyed two of her first five holes after the group began at No. 10 and fell further behind when the American rolled in long putts to birdie both Nos. 17 and 18 for the second straight day.

Playing with a new putter, Korda made another birdie at the par-5 fifth hole and then two-putted from the fringe for birdie at No. 9 after nearly driving the green. Vu and Hull also birdied the last hole to stay three shots back and in touch.

Korda looks destined to better her previous best finish at the Women's British Open — ninth place in 2019. That's her only top 10 at this major.

“I’m just trying to stay very present and not think about anything other than one shot at a time,” said Korda, a two-time major winner. “And whatever golf and links golf throws at me, I’m going to take it head on.”

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

United States' Nelly Korda lines her putt on the 9th green during the second round of the Women's British Open golf championship, in St Andrews, Scotland, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

United States' Nelly Korda plays her tee shot on the 9th during the second round of the Women's British Open golf championship, in St Andrews, Scotland, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

United States' Lilia Vu plays her tee shot on the 3rd during the second round of the Women's British Open golf championship, in St Andrews, Scotland Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Britain's Charley Hull in action on day two of the 2024 Women's British Open golf championship, at St Andrews, Scotland, Friday Aug. 23, 2024. (Steve Welsh/PA via AP)

American Nelly Korda in action on day two of the 2024 Women's British Open golf championship, at St Andrews, Scotland, Friday Aug. 23, 2024. (Steve Welsh/PA via AP)

United States' Nelly Korda plays her tee shot on the 3rd during the second round of the Women's British Open golf championship, in St Andrews, Scotland Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

United States' Nelly Korda walks to the 3rd tee during the second round of the Women's British Open golf championship, in St Andrews, Scotland Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

BERLIN (AP) — Rafael Nadal withdrew Thursday from next week's Laver Cup in Berlin, leaving it unclear when the Spanish great will play again.

The Laver Cup — the tournament where Roger Federer retired in 2022 after teaming up with Nadal in doubles — would have been Nadal's first event since the Paris Olympics and potentially one of his last ever.

“I’m really disappointed to share that I won’t be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week," the 38-year-old Nadal said. “This is a team competition and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what’s best for them and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion didn't address his current fitness after a spate of injuries in recent years, or when he might play again.

Nadal withdrew last month from the U.S. Open, meaning he missed three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in 2024. He last played in reaching the men's doubles quarterfinals at the Olympics, where he also lost in the second round of singles to Novak Djokovic.

The Laver Cup, to be held from Sept. 20-22, is an indoor hard-court men’s competition pitting Team Europe against Team World in a format reminiscent of golf’s Ryder Cup. No replacement for Nadal was immediately announced.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

FILE - Rafael Nadal reacts waves after the men's doubles quarter-final tennis competition at the Roland Garros stadium, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)