NORTON, Mass. — With hot, late August playing conditions leaving TPC Boston toasted most of Friday morning, the second round of the FM Championship proved a fiery, challenging test.
Emily Kristine Pedersen and Anna Nordqvist were two players who have persevered to keep their lights blazing into the weekend.
“It was one of those rounds where it could have like gotten away from me,” said Pedersen, who sits inside the top 10 at 7 under after 36 holes. “I think I fought really well.”
Resiliency is something the 30-year-old Pedersen has become accustomed to building on and developing after spending time on the shelf recovering from wrist surgery earlier this year.
She admitted Friday wasn’t her best ball-striking day off the tee, carding just three birdies canceled out by three bogeys.
Though she wasn’t able to take advantage of the par fives at TPC Boston, Pedersen grinded out an even par on the day and currently sits three shots off Miyu Yamashita’s lead.
“It was a bit of a struggle, but I’m happy to survive it,” Pedersen explained.
Nordqvist also survived in her own way. The 39-year-old Swede, who announced on Wednesday that this would be the final tournament of her LPGA career, refused to clock out for the final time on Friday.
“I feel like it was just one of those days,” Nordqvist said. “Like really determined to try to do everything I can to be able to play the weekend.”
When the round started, Nordqvist’s future wasn’t so certain. She barely slept last night, all of the emotions that came with officially retiring were flooding through her mind and she began the day at 2 over, with the projected cut line an even par.
However, the self-proclaimed “grinder” birdied three on the front nine with a disappointing bogey on the par-4 six that triggered her to stay aggressive. She birdied the following two holes to get to even and catapulted from there to finish the day at 2 under and slide safely into the weekend.
“Just really proud of myself for how I was able to keep my head into it and not let the emotions get the best out of me,” Nordqvist said.
The mental aspect of the game was also top of mind for Pedersen, who explained the difficulty of coming back from injury both physically and emotionally.
“Being away for five months with an injury, I was like scared I would never get back to enjoying it again and I promised myself that if I was going to get back, I would enjoy it more than I have been out there,” Pedersen said Pedersen, who was savoring the moment and laughing with playing partners Dewi Weber and Georgia Hall throughout her second round.
Pedersen also flashed a big smile to a friend outside the ropes who was cheering audibly for her after a long birdie putt at the par-4 6th sank into the cup.
With that birdie, she got back to 7 under — and was able to stay even from there for the rest of the round, saving par despite landing in the woods and in the bunker during her front nine.
Pedersen said she did her best to have fun out there and it showed even in her outfit, donning white and green checkered flowing trousers with a green and white knit shirt to match.
Despite matching the course colors, her contagious vibrancy could be spotted across the fairway.
“I feel very good out there wearing it, and I feel confident, I get a lot of compliments, so it’s really fun,” Pedersen said of her golf attire.
This is just the third time Pedersen has made the cut this year, and she’s still in search of her first career win on the LPGA Tour.
Nordqvist carded six birdies to rocket up the leaderboard on Friday after her bogey on No. 6. She solidified her spot in the weekend and only stumbled on the final hole where she had a double.
“Overall, like I think it’s just such a bittersweet feeling,” Nordqvist said. “I love playing golf and I love this game, so I’m going to try to make the best out of this weekend.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda shot an even par score of 72 for the second straight round and is expected to make the cut at the FM Championship.