Top-ranked Lilia Vu withdrew from the Blue Bay LPGA in China before the second round on Friday, opening the door for Celine Boutier to become world number one.
Boutier will become the first golfer from France, man or woman, to be ranked number one if she finishes solo third or better on Sunday at the Jian Lake Blue Bay course on Hainan Island.
“Lilia Vu has withdrawn from the Blue Bay LPGA before the second round due to injury,” the LPGA Tour said, without elaborating.
World number three Boutier has ground to make up to finish in the top three. She was eight shots off the pace going into Friday’s second round after an opening one-over 73.
Australia’s Minjee Lee led overnight after a seven-under 65 in the the $2.2 million event that concludes a three-tournament Asian swing.
Boutier, 30, who won her first major last season at the Evian Championship in her native France, was second last week at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, a shot behind winner Hannah Green of Australia.
She made her debut at the Blue Bay event in 2018, finishing third and is now in her eighth season on the LPGA Tour.
The 26-year-old American Vu has been struggling with back issues and also pulled out of the final round in Singapore five days ago.
“Yeah, last week my body wasn’t feeling great overall physically, and it was just Sunday that I couldn’t handle,” she admitted on Tuesday.
Vu carded a level-par 72 in the opening round of the Blue Bay on Thursday before pulling out. — Agence France-Presse
