Somi Lee shoots first-round 64, leads LPGA Tour finale by 2

NAPLES, Fla. — Somi Lee decided to change her putting grip and it paid off in a big way Thursday in the CME Group Tour Championship, as the South Korean opened with an 8-under 64 for a two-shot lead in the chase for a $4 million payoff.

Lee began to pull away when she went down one club to a 5-iron because of the warm conditions and set up an eagle on the par-5 17th. Her only lapse was a long three-putt bogey on the closing hole at Tiburon Golf Club.

Even so, she was two shots clear of former U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz.

Jeeno Thitikul, the No. 1 player and front-runner for LPGA player of the year, had six birdies in her round of 67, tied with three other players. Thitikul won the Tour Championship last year, and will win the points-based player of the year unless Miyu Yamashita of Japan wins this tournament.

Yamashita, whose two victories this year include the Women’s Open, was slowed by two bogeys and opened with a 70.

Nelly Korda, trying to avoid a winless year after seven titles a year ago, missed a 3-foot birdie putt on the 17th in a ho-hum round of 71.

Lee was among 29 players who won this year on the LPGA, teaming with Jin Hee Im in the Dow Championship. She was 14th in the Race to CME Globe, a solid year, but she felt she was held back by her putting. That’s when she noticed Lydia Ko, the latest LPGA Hall of Fame member.

“I just followed Lydia Ko’s putter grip because she’s a good player and I thought, ‘Why not follow a good player’s putter grip?’ It worked really well,” Lee said.

She tried it last week, made a few tweaks and was rolling at the Tour Championship, taking only 27 putts in the round.

The top 60 reached the season finale, and Race to CME Globe rankings are no longer relevant. Whoever wins the tournament gets $4 million — the richest prize in women’s golf — from the $11 million purse.

“I know like we’re playing for $4 million check, but to me I think it’s just like almost a bonus for me this kind of year to be able to play here,” Thitikul said. “I have been on a really good run for the year, nothing to think about that much.”

Thitikul was in a tie for third with Im, Nasa Hataoka and Sei-young Kim. A pair of major champions, Grace Kim (Evian Championship) and Minjee Lee (Women’s PGA) were in the group at 68.