A five-under opener, then a tougher Friday
Liyana Durisic opened the Maybank Championship with a bogey-free 67 (five under par) on Thursday. On October 30, her second round brought a 73 (one over), putting her on 140 (four under) through 36 holes. She remained the highest-placed Malaysian at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, tied for 28th.
In her official post-round interview, Durisic acknowledged that her ball striking had been less precise than on day one. Her response was to focus on choosing safer places to miss the green. That does not guarantee birdies, but it can leave a more manageable next shot rather than an unnecessarily difficult recovery.
The 14th-hole double bogey
Her most costly moment came at the 14th. The ball lay in rough on the right, on a downhill lie with potential flier characteristics. With the flag tucked to the right, she misjudged the approach distance and came up short. Problems with the ensuing short-game sequence resulted in a double bogey. She openly identified downhill lies as an area for further work.
Rather than allow one hole to decide her mood, Durisic concentrated on what remained: five holes that day and another two rounds at the tournament.
A friend steps in as caddie
There was also a change on the bag. Her brother, normally her caddie, was unavailable because of an urgent matter. A friend took his place for Friday and helped maintain an easy atmosphere by talking about more than golf. Durisic expected her brother back for Saturday.
Playing at home brings enthusiastic support, alongside greater public attention. Durisic resisted attaching a fixed target to the weekend: she wanted to remain composed, enjoy the round and give herself chances over the remaining 36 holes.
Sources: Official ASAP Sports interview transcript, October 30, 2026, corroborated by the LPGA second-round report. This is original editorial reporting on public comments, not an interview conducted by GOLFTWITT.
