A Lim Kim fought through rain and wind at Dundonald Links, staying one shot off the lead and firmly in the Women’s Scottish Open title chase into this weekend.
A Lim Kim didn’t light up Dundonald Links on Friday. She did something that might matter even more at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open ... She refused to let the course knock her out of contention.
Kim battled unpredictable wind, passing rain and a stubborn links layout to post an even-par 72 in the second round.
Combined with Thursday’s opening 67, the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open champion reached the clubhouse at 5-under 139, one shot behind Jenny Shin at the time she finished.
Kim produced two birdies, two bogeys and a mountain of steady pars. After dropping a shot at the par-4 second, she immediately responded with a birdie at the par-5 third.
She then leaned on her control, patience and short game to string together seven consecutive pars.
Another bogey arrived at the par-3 11th, briefly pushing her back to 4-under. But Kim never unraveled.
She steadied herself with six more pars before taking advantage of the par-5 18th, closing her round with a birdie that could provide some valuable momentum entering the weekend.
That final putt turned a potentially frustrating afternoon into a perfectly acceptable result.
Kim admitted the morning conditions weren’t any bargain. The rain made scoring difficult early, and although the weather improved slightly during her second nine, Dundonald continued demanding precise shots and plenty of patience.
Her secret weapon might not have been found in the golf bag.
Kim has become one of the tournament’s most recognizable players by wearing earmuffs to combat the chilly coastal wind.
She joked that keeping her ears warm also keeps her confidence high. Considering her position on the leaderboard, it’s tough to argue with the strategy.
The 29-year-old has quietly assembled a strong LPGA Tour season, making 11 cuts in 14 starts with five top-10 finishes.
That run includes a tie for seventh at the Dow Championship and a tie for eighth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Now she’s positioned to chase the fourth LPGA Tour victory of her career.
The leaderboard could shift as Friday’s afternoon wave completes its rounds, but Kim has already accomplished the most important job ... She’s still standing, still dangerous and still close enough to make a serious weekend charge.
At a course built to punish impatience, Kim’s calm approach—and those now-famous earmuffs—could prove to be the winning combination.
