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TSN Senior Reporter

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Ariya Jutanugarn didn’t hit one driver all day on Friday. In fact, she didn’t even have a driver in the bag. But that didn’t stop the long-hitting, 20-year-old from surging into the lead at the CP Canadian Women’s Open with a smart round of 64.

Jutanugarn submitted a clean sheet with eight birdies over the Priddis Green G&CC and leads the tournament heading to the weekend. In Gee Chun and Stephanie Meadow are tied for second three shots back while a group of five players, including Lydia Ko, are a further stroke behind.

“I feel pretty good today because I hit my tee shot pretty good, and I was calm on every shot, so I feel good,” Jutanugarn told reporters.

Off the tee, the Thai golfer is among the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour and is able to get by more than adequately using a three-wood and two-iron. In fact, she keeps the driver in the locker more often than not, especially when the fairways are tight. It certainly hasn’t held her back this week; Jutanugarn hit all 14 fairways on Friday and missed just a pair a day earlier.

This entire year hasn’t been too shabby either. She’s won four times, including the Ricoh Women’s British Open. She also held the first-round lead at the Olympics a week ago but was forced to withdraw midway through the third round after injuring her knee.

It’s certainly been a break-out year for Jutanugarn, who missed the cut in 10 consecutive tournaments a year ago. She’s currently second in the Rolex world rankings, trailing only Lydia Ko.

A large part of Jutanugarn’s success has come with the work she’s done with coaches Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson. The duo, who run a company called Vision 54, have taught Jutanugarn how to stay calm and patient during each shot, allowing her to focus on the swing. It’s an all-encompassing approach to playing golf that has helped her overcome her fears on the course.

After a strong amateur career that included winning the 2012 Canadian Amateur, and a good start as a pro, Jutanugarn suffered a shoulder injury that set her back. When she returned, she became afraid of every outcome - afraid of missing a shot, a cut and of losing her card. It handcuffed her on the course, tying up her powerful swing.

Earlier this year, she suffered her biggest collapse at the ANA Inspiration. Leading the major championship by two with three holes remaining, Jutanugarn finished with three straight bogeys - including a waterlogged tee shot on the final hole -  which allowed Ko to pass her for the crown.

But those days are seemingly behind her. Now she’s confident enough to leave the driver in the trunk, confident enough to fire at pins and confident enough to win. She’s clearly at ease on the course and not wrapped up in what the scoreboard happens to read.

“I feel good, but I didn't honestly...I don't really care about who is leading,” she said. “I just feel like I want to have fun and (be) happy on the course.”

When she’s happy, she plays well, something that her coaches understood. In fact, Nilsson and Marriott gave Jutanugarn a key to remind her to stay positive: as part of her pre-shot routine, she will showcase a broad smile.

If she plays the next 36 holes as she has the first, she won’t need any reminders to smile. It should come pretty naturally.