I.K. Kim is weary of having too much of a good thing.
The four-time winner on the LPGA Tour is a mainstay on the leaderboard at the LPGA Lotte Championship — when she’s here.
Kim has alternated appearances in Hawaii, placing in the top five in 2013 and ’15 while skipping the event in ’14 and ’16.
That pattern looks like it will hold up again this year, as Kim put herself in contention with a blistering 8-under 64 on Thursday to share the lead after two rounds at Ko Olina Golf Club.
Kim says the changing winds play right into her game, but her decision not to play here every year is about more than just resting after the season’s first major.
“I think I appreciate (it) more when I come to Hawaii every other year — you know what I mean? — than every year,” said Kim, who concedes to choosing the tournaments she plays based on location and how often she visits.
It might get tougher for her to stay away from Hawaii the more she plays at Ko Olina, which she again torched in not the easiest of conditions.
Kim bested her previous best round of 65 at Ko Olina — done twice — with a right-to-left bender for birdie on 18 from 9 feet.
It was her ninth of the round, with the only bogey coming on the par-3 fourth. She made five birdies in a row from Nos. 7 to 11 as she heated up with the putter, which kept her from going low in her first round on Wednesday.
“I had a great putting day,” said Kim, who needed only 25 to get through 18 holes. “Yesterday I hit the ball pretty well, (but) just didn’t make as many putts. Today the putts were dropping (and) I had some good shots, so kind of scrambled very well.”
Kim was still on the course Wednesday when play was halted for 45 minutes due to the rain that again interfered in the afternoon on Thursday. All but two groups were able to finish their rounds on Wednesday, including Kim, who made bogey on her third-to-last hole to settle for a 71.
“I was really glad that we got to finish (because) two groups didn’t get to finish,” Kim said. “I learned yesterday I wasn’t as aggressive, because when we started it wasn’t as soft and then it got soft, so (it was) hard to adjust. Today I knew it was going to be soft, so kind of helped going into picking out the clubs (for today).”
Ranked No. 31 in the world, Kim ended a six-year drought on tour with a win in China at the Reignwood LPGA Classic last October.
She started her 2017 LPGA season four weeks ago at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup and has made two cuts in three tournaments, but has yet to finish in the top 25.
Her 8-under round is her best since winning the tournament in China.
“Yeah, that was pretty good,” she said of her 64. “It was nice to get out in the morning. I tried to have a good mind-set because I’m having a little bit of a sore throat.
“Maybe that has kind of helped, too. I didn’t expect very much today. I just came out to give my best, not thinking about results so much.”
Kim’s share of the lead held up as the afternoon golfers had a much harder time making a move up the leaderboard. Thirteen of the 16 players at 6 under or better teed off in the morning.
Her playing partner today is world No. 3 Ariya Jutanugarn, who shot a bogey-free 66, also in the morning.
