Minjee Lee has the desire to win - all she has to do now is execute at the Women's Scottish Open.
The Australian followed her opening-round 67 at Dundonald Links with a three-under 69 on Friday to tie the lead at eight under with Megan Khang.
American Khang birdied her final hole to shoot a four-under 68 to join Lee, as both players chase their first wins of 2024.
They are two shots clear of New Zealand's Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko (69), Englishwoman Charley Hull (68) and Lauren Coughlin of the United States (69).
Lee began her day on the 10th and rolled in back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18 to extend her advantage.
The West Australian then made further birdies on holes two and three before dropping her only shot of the week on the tough seventh hole.
"I feel like I'm playing really solidly," said Lee. "It was really windy out there, even more so than yesterday afternoon. I feel like I just put myself in good positions when I made my birdies and tried to make the least amount of bogeys as possible. I think I'm doing pretty good out there."
The two-time major champion possesses the hunger to go all the way. It's just putting it all together.
"I would love to win and that is what we strive for as players," said Lee, who last won at the BMW Ladies Championship in October.
"I'm just going to do what I can control. I'll just try my very best, and if that happens to be a win, that's great.
"If it doesn't, it's also part of my process too. I'm just going to try and go out there and have as much fun as I can."
Khang made six birdies, including a chip-in. The last of them came in the final minutes of the day's play with Lee already in the clubhouse.
"I'm really trying to have a lot of fun out there," said Khang. "It's not often I'm hitting a 7-iron to a 116 pin. I'm really comfortable with how my ball-striking is.
"Fortunately, I've been able to hit some good shots and really trust myself out there and make some long putts here and there but overall, really trying to enjoy it and make the most of it because it's tough.
"It's always between the ears that gets you going, and so kind of coming into this week, obviously next week being St Andrews, as well, just trying to really embrace links golf and have some fun."
The top five have pulled clear of the rest of the field, with Mary Liu of China and Esther Henseleit - silver-medallist at the Paris Games - tied for sixth place at three-under, five off the lead.
Australians Grace Kim (72) and Gabriela Ruffels (73) are at even par and tied 21st.
The Scottish Open is the final stop before the Women's British Open next week at St Andrews.
