We can toss all the expectations out the window, after day two. The home-country, day-one leader ballooned to a 76 on Thursday, and fell five shots off the pace, tied for sixth. There’s no more room for error for Celine Boutier. Higher than three-under each of the next two days won’t get the job done. One player posted 65 and two more signed for 66, so the opportunity was there. Astonishingly, the 18th seems to play more difficult as a par five, than it did as a par four. Players found the right rough and sand with regularity, and struggled to reach the green in three from that position.

Le Golf National is proving to be a different beast this week. The 61s and 62s posted a week ago seem out of reach, and it will take a blend of restraint and bravery to win the week. Remember, too, that two of the leaders through day two of the men’s competition ended up winning medals, but those were seasoned winners on their tours. Of the top five in the women’s bracket, three are unproven competitors, with varying years of service to the guild.

Let’s run down what we do know at this juncture, and restrict ourselves to five things from round two at the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic golf competition, holes 19 through 36.

1. Morgane Metraux

Thankfully, this Swiss golfer has a wikipedia page. That saves a lot of guesswork and supposition. We know that she has two LET wins, and one on the Symetra Tour. Metraux studied and competed at Florida State, then turned professional. Success has not come her way on the LPGA circuit, so victory at the Olympic Games seems to be quite a reach for a first big win. Two eagles and four birdies on the outward half, staked the Alpine queen to a 28 and visions of a really low number. She came home in plus-one, which wasn’t half bad, and posted the day’s second-low round of 66.

Morgane Metreaux ties the LEAD with a 6-under start through her first six holes. ???

? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/CH4h0tP0H4

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 8, 2024

2. Ruoning Yin

As if we needed any more uncertainty, meet Ruoning Yin. She holds three LPGA titles. One is a major (the PGA) and another came in a team event (counts but doesn’t count.) The third was a regular tour event. Two came in 2023, and the partner affair came this season. Can Yin win? Yes. Does she do so with enough regularity, to frame her as the favorite? Absolutely not.

Yin avoided the two bogeys posted by Metraux, and her seven birdies gave her the day’s low round, and a hold on second place. She finds herself one back of the leader, and two ahead of third place. If round-one Ruoning (equal birdies and bogeys) returns on Friday, she might falter. If round-two Yin sticks around, she might be your leader on day three eve.

Ruoning Yin closes with a birdie for a second-round 65 and solo 2nd at the halfway point. ???

? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/5X8r4jnk7Y

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 8, 2024

3. Lydia Ko

People are making a big deal out of Olympic Lydia, given that she has earned a medal in each of the previous two golf competitions. She lacks the gold, and would love to win it, but any medal is spectacular. Ko makes her birdies early at Le Golf National, then hangs on for life over the closing stretch. A two-under or three-under run on Friday, over the final six holes, would give her confidence a boost, heading into day four. Bogey at the last on day two, after she made birdie there on day one, had to be a balloon-popper.

Here comes Olympic Lydia. ???

Lydia Ko climbs to 6-under and T-2 at Le Golf National.

? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/88urX0ohCV

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 8, 2024

4. Mariajo and Pia

How unlikely to feature, is either Mariajo Uribe of Colombia, or Pia Babnik of Slovenia? There’s zero footage of their play from day two. We had to go back to the Ladies European Tour to find a swing clip of Babnik. She did her best Rory Sabbatini (the other famous Slovenian golf olympian) impression, posting seven birdies on the day. Five came consecutively, showing that she is capable of riding a wave of good vibes and great play. As for Uribe, just another 70. HOWEVER, she has made birdie at the diabolical 18th both days, and that should count for a lot, if she is in the hunt come Sunday.

Slam dunk! ?

Brightening up your Monday with some Pia Babnik brilliance ?#RaiseOurGame | #LETreloaded pic.twitter.com/YHBR9Bc5my

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 18, 2024

5. Celine Boutier

We know that Celine Boutier can win tournaments. This time in 2023, she got herself on a hot streak, and rode it to a world number one ranking. This week, she has experienced highs and lows at Le Golf National. The question on which she will sleep, is whether she can recapture the dominance of day one. If she is able to post another 65 on day three, and reach double-digits under par, she will be in the mix on Saturday.

Boutier was in decent shape at the 13th tee. By the fifteenth green, she had returned five shots to the field, and lost confidence in nearly everything. She managed to par her way home, but will need a short memory on day three, to right the ship.

Celine Boutier tees off in front of the home crowd as the leader heading into round 2! ?? #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/vvr4Kvnxcq

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 8, 2024