Haeran Ryu might make Nelly Korda work a little harder for that Rolex Player of the Year trophy after all. The South Korean currently leads close to home at the BMW Championship.

Currently trailing by 75 points, Ryu would need to do one of the following to have a chance at beating Korda: 1) win three tournaments or 2) post two wins, a second-place finish and an eighth-place finish.

Ryu will play next week in Malaysia as well as the final two events of the season in Florida. Korda is skipping the entire Asian swing. Both Korda and Ryu won two majors this season on the LPGA. Ryu added a third major on the KLPGA.

The BMW marks Ryu's first LPGA event since the FM Championship back in late August. She has since played in two events on the KLPGA, winning the Hite Jinro Championship earlier this month.

Ryu posted a pair of eagles on two par 5s on the front nine and added four more birdies on the back side for a smooth 64 at Pine Beach Golf Links. She has missed only one green in the first 36 holes and two fairways and is 13 under for the tournament.

"Yeah, today was an amazing day because I really worried about the wind but today's wind is much better than yesterday, so that's why I hit a lot of greens today," she said. "Everything is good for me, so yeah, I'm happy right now."

Because Korda won't play in enough events to qualify for the Vare Trophy, Ryu has a slim leg up in that race. Her 69.54 scoring average is 0.1 strokes ahead of Miyu Yamashita. Neither has ever won the Vare.

"This is actually the third time I've been asked about the Vare Trophy, so let me be honest," said Ryu after Friday's round. "I'd be OK even if I didn't win it. I haven't really been thinking about the Vare Trophy today. Instead, I've been focusing on how to manage my game out there. Playing in windy conditions is still extremely difficult. It's hard even off the tee, and on the second shot, I'm constantly reminding myself not to hit the ball too high and to keep it down. That's the mindset I've been trying to maintain throughout the round.

"Of course, the Vare Trophy is an award I really want to win. But if wanting an award were enough to win it, wouldn't every player have one? So I'm leaving that part up to fate. I think the best thing I can do is focus on the situation I'm in and do the best I can with what I have."

Korea's Minsun7 Kim, a three-time winner on the KLPGA, and American Lauren Coughlin are tied for second at 11 under. Julia Lopez Ramirez and Karis Davidson are three back in a share of fourth.

Chizzy Iwai shot up the board by carding her own set of eagles on the sixth and 17th.