Lydia Ko remains well off the pace heading in the second women's golf major of the year, despite a much-improved third-round performance at the ANA Inspiration in California.
During Sunday's (NZ time) third round, Ko carded a three-under 69 to sit four-under for the tournament to sit in a seven-way tie for 21st with one round remaining.
But the Kiwi remained eight shots behind co-leaders Brooke Henderson and Nelly Korda, who held the solo lead heading into the third round.
Henderson was down the pack, but a seven-under 65 round for Henderson catapulted her into contention.
After rounds of 69 then 74, Ko was determined to hit back and she did with four birdies (holes 11, 17, three, and nine) and one bogey (one).
The tournament is usually scheduled for April, but the coronavirus pandemic saw the event delayed.
Ko won the tournament in 2016. The 23-year-old has been in top form since golf returned in July, with all her finishes coming inside the top 30.
She had a golden chance to end her two-year title drought at the Marathon Classic in Ohio but blew a five-shot lead over the last six holes.
Last month, she tied for 14th at the British Open, where only five golfers completed the tournament with scores of even-par or under.
Elsewhere, Kiwi Tim Wilkinson is holding his own after three rounds in the first PGA Tour event of the new season at the Safeway Open in Napa, California.
Wilkinson is tied for seventh on 13-under, three shots behind Norwegian leader Kristoffer Ventura.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Kiwi Ryan Fox carded a four-over 75 in his third round to drop back to a share of 49th place at two-under-par.
He's nine shots behind South African defender George Coetzee.
