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Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Honey, they shrunk the catalogs. While retailers hope to go big this holiday season , customers may notice that the printed gift guides arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were indeed scaled down to save on postage and paper, resulting in pint-sized editions. Lands’ End, Duluth Trading Company and Hammacher Schlemmer are among gift purveyors using smaller editions. Some retailers are saving even more money with postcards. Lisa Ayoob, a tech-savvy, online shopper in Portland, Maine, was surprised by the size of a recent catalog she received from outdoor apparel company Carbon2Cobalt. “It almost felt like it was a pamphlet compared to a catalog,” she said. Catalogs have undergone a steady recalibration over the years in response to technological changes and consumer behavior. The thick, heavy Sears and J.C. Penney catalogs that brought store displays to American living rooms slimmed down and gave way to targeted mailings once websites could do the same thing. Recent postal rate increases accelerated the latest shift to compact formats. The number of catalogs mailed each year dropped about 40% between 2006 to 2018, when an estimated 11.5 billion were mailed to homes, according to the trade group formerly known as the American Catalog Mailers Association. In a sign of the times, the group based in Washington rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association, reflecting a broadened focus. But don’t expect catalogs to go the way of dinosaurs yet. Defying predictions of doom, they have managed to remain relevant in the e-commerce era. Retail companies found that could treat catalogs with fewer pages as a marketing tool and include QR and promo codes to entice customers to browse online and complete a purchase. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, catalogs are costly to produce and ship. But they hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs, helping retailers cut through the noise for consumers barraged by multi-format advertisements, industry officials say. In an unlikely twist, notable e-commerce companies like Amazon and home goods supplier Wayfair started distributing catalogs in recent years. Amazon began mailing a toy catalog in 2018. That was the same year Sears, which produced an annual Christmas Wish Book Wish starting in 1933, filed for bankruptc y. Fans of printed information may rejoice to hear that apparel retailer J.Crew relaunched its glossy catalog this year. Research shows that the hands-on experience of thumbing through a catalog leaves a greater impression on consumers, said Jonathan Zhang, a professor of marketing at Colorado State University. “The reason why these paper formats are so effective is that our human brains haven’t evolved as fast as technology and computers over the past 10 to 20 years. We retain more information when we read something on paper. That’s why paper books remain relevant,” Zhang said. “The psychology shows that three-dimensional, tactile experiences are more memorable.” Pint-sized presentations still can work, though, because the purpose of catalogs these days is simply to get customers’ attention, Zhang said. Conserving paper also works better with younger consumers who are worried about the holiday shopping season’s impact on the planet, he said. Postal increases are hastening changes. The latest round of postage hikes in July included the category with the 8.5-by-11-inch size that used to be ubiquitous for the catalog industry. Many retailers responded by reducing the size of catalogs, putting them in a lower-cost letter category, said Paul Miller, executive vice president and managing director of the American Commerce Marketing Association. One size, called a “slim jim,” measures 10.5 by 5.5 inches. But there other sizes. Some retailers have further reduced costs by mailing large postcards to consumers. Lands’ End, for one, is testing new compact formats to supplement its traditional catalogs. This year, that included folded glossy brochures and postcards, along with other formats, Chief Transformation Officer Angie Rieger said. Maine resident Ayoob said she understands why retailers still use catalogs even though she no longer is a fan of the format. These days, she prefers to browse for products on the internet, not by flipping through paper pages. “Everybody wants eyeballs. There’s so much out there — so many websites, so many brands,” said Ayoob, who spent 35 years working in department stores and in the wholesale industry. Targeting customers at home is not a new concept. L.L. Bean was a pioneer of the mail-order catalog after its founder promoted his famous “Maine Hunting Shoe” to hunting license holders from out-of-state in 1912. The outdoor clothing and equipment company based in Freeport, Maine, is sticking to mailing out regular-sized catalogs for now. “By showcasing our icons, the catalog became an icon itself,” L.L. Bean spokesperson Amanda Hannah said. “Even as we invest more in our digital and brand marketing channels, the catalog retains a strong association with our brand, and is therefore an important part of our omni-channel strategy, especially for our loyal customers.” David Sharp, The Associated Press
It’s not a game of PachinkoWhy your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season
Sindh govt dedicated to realising Benazir's vision of equitable society: CMFrom Needles to Nylon: A Journey Through the History of Textile and Clothing InnovationsElection 2024: All 174 seats confirmed as independents eye up government formation
For Good Governance, accountability and efficiency of administration matter In the festive season, when Goa is at its crowded best, comes the commemoration of Good Governance Week. Since 2014, Good Governance Day has been celebrated on December 25 each year to mark the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Subsequently, the central government went in for Good Governance Week, marked from December 19 to 25. Officials have linked this day with the government’s “commitment to transparent, effective, and accountable governance”. There can be no two opinions about the need for good governance at all levels, from New Delhi to the panchayats. It is essential to foster trust, provide sustainable development, and improve the quality of life for the average person. Every government would like to believe that it is the epitome of good governance. Not a single government on the planet would like to be linked to arbitrary policymaking, an unaccountable bureaucracy, an unjust legal system, abuse of political power, a disempowered civil society, widespread and systemic corruption, a lack of openness, and deception of the ruled. Here comes the rub: how do we match the promises of those who govern with the expectations of those who are ruled? Understandably, in India after 1947 and Goa after 1961, our expectations have grown vastly. Citizens expect better. In the past few decades, as tax collections picked up substantially, the quality of governance expected has also grown. Responding to this, so many initiatives have been taken up. A slew of acronyms and projects have been launched since the push towards liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (in 1991). Other landmark measures unleashed enthusiasm. These include the Right to Information Act (2005), the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act (2013), Panchayat Raj initiatives (1993), GST reforms (2017), the Jan Lokpal Movement, the Digital India Mission (2015), the Government e-marketplace (2016), Aadhar (2010 onwards), and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI, 2016). In the field of welfare and social inclusion, we’ve seen the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT, 2013), the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana for opening millions of bank accounts (PMJDY, 2014), and the earlier Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (better known as MGNREGA, 2005). Goa, at one stage, surprised the rest of the nation by passing its own fairly efficient Right to Information Act, 1997, when Pratapsing Rane was the chief minister of the state. For some time, the rest of the nation was closely watching how this was being implemented, and prominent intellectual-politicians like Union minister Arun Shourie expressed an interest in understanding the workings of this law. But, over time, even those who were earlier enthusiastic about such laws complained about their workings. Subsequently, of course, the Goa RTI Act was overtaken by the central law. In recent times, Goa has undertaken e-governance initiatives (the Goa Online Portal, Goa State Data Centre, or the G2C Services, and land records digitisation). It has a Goa Grievance Redressal Portal and offers a single-window clearance for entrepreneurs. Perhaps the initiatives have not been sufficiently discussed by those who it is meant to serve, and that can be amended. The administration has to reach the doorsteps of the people. Instead of making people go to the politicians to get even small works cleared, the administration should be more responsive and accountable. Governments should work not just on the basis of claims and promises but also by convincing the citizens through the all-important, actually enhanced efficacy. Government agencies need to be sensitive to the people.Andhra CM Naidu expresses sadness over Manmohan Singh’s death
Liverpool's clubland determined to go beyond Labour's spiking plansFianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majoritySuncorp's 'digital insurer' policy transformation program will empower it to deliver improved customer and employee outcomes SYDNEY, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duck Creek Technologies, the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, has announced a new partnership with Suncorp, one of Australia's and New Zealand's largest general insurers. Duck Creek will deliver cloud-native, low-code core insurance delivery solutions as part of Suncorp's recently announced 'digital insurer' policy transformation program. Duck Creek's SaaS solutions will replace multiple on-premises legacy systems and help Suncorp achieve its customer-outcome and value focused strategies. The multi-year agreement for Duck Creek policy, billing and Clarity (data, insights and AI) solutions is an important milestone, and will underpin the next era of technology modernisation and process simplification for Suncorp. Duck Creek's cohesive and comprehensive suite is expected to reduce Suncorp's technological complexity, support their ability to deliver enhanced customer value and personalisation, and improve operational efficiency. Suncorp aims to develop more customer-centric, data-driven and brand-specific propositions and experiences without the associated complexity; and deliver value to market faster and more efficiently across its personal and commercial brands in Australia and New Zealand. "Modernising our core insurance platforms will help us deliver innovative and affordable customer propositions, simplify and streamline our operations, and importantly enable our people,” said Lisa Harrison, Chief Executive Consumer Insurance at Suncorp. "Through a rigorous RFP process, we selected Duck Creek as it has a proven track record both globally and locally.” "This is a multi-year program designed to roll out new capabilities in a safe, smart and efficient way. We have assigned dedicated business and technical leadership to work alongside Duck Creek and our integration partner, with strong governance structures and oversight. "We look forward to a successful ongoing partnership with Duck Creek to help deliver this important program,” Ms. Harrison said. "Suncorp is pushing the boundaries of insurance innovation. They appreciate that they're not in the business of just insuring assets, but of delivering confidence and better experiences and outcomes for their policyholders,” said Christian Erickson, Managing Director (APAC) of Duck Creek Technologies. "Duck Creek's vision, to transform insurance technology, helping insurers be smarter, faster and more efficient, and provide the best protection for people and businesses, is aligned with Suncorp's, as a future-focused and protection-driven insurer. This makes us ideal partners and we're honored to be a part of helping deliver Suncorp's strategy. We believe Suncorp will push us to think and innovate differently and we are excited for the outcomes we will achieve together.” The unique modular architecture of Duck Creek's OnDemand platform will help accelerate Suncorp's innovation timelines, reducing new product time-to-market from months to weeks and product amendments from weeks to days. The OnDemand platform will also help Suncorp increase automation, eliminate manual processes and enhance data-driven decision making. "Our policyholder-centric solutions are designed to equip Suncorp to overcome any technological obstacles and refocus resources toward delivering new innovative customer propositions and experiences," Mr. Erickson said. About Duck Creek Technologies Duck Creek Technologies is the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite , and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand . Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information - LinkedIn and X . About Suncorp Group Suncorp Group is an ASX-listed Trans-Tasman insurance company, headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. With a heritage dating back more than 100 years, Suncorp provides insurance products and services through some of Australia and New Zealand's most recognisable brands. Media Contacts: Duck Creek Chris Hamilton [email protected] Suncorp James Spence [email protected]
Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in shares of RxSight, Inc. ( NASDAQ:RXST – Free Report ) by 55.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,536 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 550 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC’s holdings in RxSight were worth $76,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in RXST. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of RxSight by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,524,510 shares of the company’s stock worth $78,634,000 after buying an additional 40,500 shares during the last quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in RxSight by 74.9% during the 2nd quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 706,162 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,490,000 after acquiring an additional 302,367 shares in the last quarter. Brown Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in RxSight during the third quarter worth about $26,813,000. Baillie Gifford & Co. raised its position in RxSight by 17.0% during the third quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 419,004 shares of the company’s stock worth $20,711,000 after acquiring an additional 60,789 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in shares of RxSight in the second quarter valued at about $19,512,000. 78.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $66.00 price objective on shares of RxSight in a research report on Friday, September 13th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on RxSight in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $72.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on RxSight from $68.00 to $54.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 6th. Oppenheimer reduced their target price on shares of RxSight from $72.00 to $65.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of RxSight from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $61.63. Insider Activity at RxSight In other RxSight news, insider Ilya Goldshleger sold 3,100 shares of RxSight stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.00, for a total value of $139,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 42,246 shares in the company, valued at $1,901,070. This trade represents a 6.84 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, Director Shweta Maniar sold 3,782 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.88, for a total value of $173,518.16. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,902 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $500,183.76. The trade was a 25.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders sold 62,702 shares of company stock worth $3,059,197. 9.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders. RxSight Price Performance RXST opened at $46.88 on Friday. RxSight, Inc. has a 12 month low of $28.88 and a 12 month high of $66.54. The business has a 50-day moving average of $48.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $52.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -56.48 and a beta of 1.19. About RxSight ( Free Report ) RxSight, Inc, a commercial-stage medical device company, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of light adjustable intraocular lenses (LAL) used in cataract surgery in the United States and internationally. It offers RxSight system that enables doctors to customize and enhance the visual acuity for patients after cataract surgery. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for RxSight Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RxSight and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .or more than 30 years, , and they have done so with remarkable success. With each fight card, the stakes have been raised and fans have been able to enjoy unforgettable moments during the mega-events. , setting the bar higher than ever. Now, . Without a true rival in the industry, the boss faces the . Fans are already excited about the possible featured matchups in 2025, and . Buckle up, fight fans: 2025 will be a year to remember. Dana White will expand UFC's reach beyond borders MMA fans have been spoiled in 2024, and the year feels like an endless gift. From thrilling buzzer-beating knockouts at UFC 300 to record ticket sales and the spectacle of UFC 306, the action has been non-stop. Beyond the octagon, Dana White has been busy not only signing new talent, but also expanding the UFC's reach into new territories. We have already witnessed a heartfelt , but now it is time to dream even bigger. White has confirmed his plans to host UFC events in new regions, with . The announcement came ahead of , which featured Spanish giant achieving an impressive knockout victory over , the first of Holloway's career. On the shared some insights into the while talking about , a frequent front-row attendee at UFC events. " ," White revealed. This news has sparked excitement and many questions. Where in Spain will the event take place? Will it be a or a pay-per-view show? Fortunately, White provided some answers and hinted that Meanwhile, its focuses on the current 185-pound champion, , who could headline the promotion's first event in . Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how the UFC extends its influence beyond the US market and borders in 2025. The biggest showdown of all time: Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall The currently has a champion, but there are still loose ends to be tied up, and none seems more important than the potential matchup. If fans and fighters alike were asked about the fight they most want to see in 2025, this heavyweight clash would most likely top the list , has been patiently waiting for his chance to unify the belts against the legendary " ". However, despite Aspinall's persistent calls for attention, . While the fight has not been officially scheduled, UFC CEO Dana White has given fans a glimmer of hope. Speaking at the post-fight press conference at , White addressed the speculation surrounding the matchup "I will say 100 percent that the fight happens," White said. The boss has also reiterated that this generational clash will be the biggest fight in the company's history. "I think it's probably the biggest fight in heavyweight history, and it's also a huge fight in the history of the company. It's a big fight." , but the reigning champion has been somewhat lukewarm to the idea, or so it seems. When asked about the apparent disparity, offered some clarity on the situation. "It's strange," White said. "What's strange about that, let me tell you what's strange about that: Usually guys say that (expletive) behind the scenes and not publicly. Jon says that (expletive) publicly, but not behind the scenes. Jon is a very unique individual to deal with. From day one, I've been confident that Jon Jones would make that fight. Even before the (Miocic) fight, I said Jon would make this fight. Jon Jones is not afraid to fight anyone, and that's a fact." However, Aspinall has not relented in his quest to secure the fight, even during the holiday season. At Christmas, he took to social media to share a hilarious meme: a roast duck with Jon Jones' head Photoshopped on it, implying that "Bones" was "ducking" him. The post caused a stir in the MMA community, increasing anticipation for a possible matchup. Conor McGregor's UFC return in 2025 It's been more than three years since fans last saw Conor McGregor inside the octagon. While "The Notorious" has kept himself busy with personal matters - becoming a co-owner of BKFC, expanding his business empire and dealing with legal battles - the question on everyone's mind remains: when will McGregor return to the octagon? Fortunately for MMA fans, the answer seems to be on the horizon. McGregor had hinted that he would make his long-awaited return in 2025. Speaking to DAZN Boxing, the Irish superstar confirmed his intentions and expressed his hopes of finally gracing the MMA cage once again. "It will be in 2025," McGregor said. "My job is just to go to the gym, be in the gym, stay fit and be sure that whenever, wherever, I'll be ready." In addition to his UFC return in 2025, McGregor has caused a stir with a recent post on X, in which a possible showdown against Logan Paul was hinted at. The social media storm surrounding the idea gained even more momentum after Paul's talks with India's Ambani family. While McGregor currently has two fights remaining on his UFC contract, his post raises questions about his future in the promotion. With a track record of making unpredictable moves, could a fight with Logan Paul indicate that McGregor is considering greener pastures outside of the UFC? Could there be a new double champion on the horizon? Conor McGregor made history as a two-weight champion in 2016 and Alex Pereira has followed suit by conquering the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. Now, could a certain Russian fighter make his own run at two weight classes? Islam Makhachev, who recently defended his lightweight title with a submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, has hinted at a possible move up in weight class to cement his legacy. Makhachev is considering the possibility of becoming a two-weight champion, seeking to surpass even Khabib's remarkable career. While the Dagestani will not fight at 170 pounds due to the presence of his faithful Belal Muhammad from "Team Khabib", Javier Mendez recently claimed that Makhachev could easily dominate Dricus Du Plessis and claim the 185-pound gold. However, White wants to keep Makhachev busy at lightweight with a showdown against Arman Tsarukyan scheduled for UFC 311. The fight will mark Makhachev's fourth title defense, a milestone that already puts him ahead of Khabib in terms of UFC title defenses. With Makhachev potentially breaking records and making waves in multiple weight classes, the question remains: will he move up to welterweight after this fight or continue to dominate at lightweight for now? Is 2025 shaping up to be a big year for the promotion? Will this be the biggest year for the UFC yet?
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Narin An handled the windy conditions with a hot putter on Thursday, making four straight birdies around the turn and finishing with an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead in the CME Group Tour Championship. At stake for the 60-player field is a $4 million prize to the winner, the largest single-day payoff in women’s golf. Nelly Korda already has won more than that during her sterling season of seven wins. Now she faces an eight-shot deficit over the next three days at Tiburon Golf Club if she wants to end her year in fitting fashion. Korda, coming off a victory last week, couldn’t make amends for her three bogeys and had to settle for an even-par 72. She has come from behind in four of her victories, and still has 54 holes ahead of her. But it has made the task that much tougher. Everything felt easy for An, a 28-year-old from South Korea who has never won on the LPGA and has never cracked the top 10 in any of the 16 majors she has played. “Today my putt really good,” An said. “The speed was good and the shape was good. I just try to focus a little bit more.” She had a one-shot lead over Angel Yin, who shot 30 on the back nine, including an eagle on the par-5 17th hole that most players can easily reach in two. RELATED COVERAGE Second round washed out at the Australian PGA and the tournament has been reduced to 54 holes It’s getting harder to stay on the PGA Tour. Here’s why Major winners Jason Day and Cameron Smith trail by 2 after 1st round of the Australian PGA Former U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz and Marina Alex were at 66, with Lydia Ko leading the group at 67. Despite the wind so typical along the Gulf Coast of Florida, 27 players — nearly half the field — shot in the 60s. “It’s a good head start for the big ol’ prize we get at the end of the week,” Yin said. Whoever wins this week is assured of breaking the 17-year-old LPGA record for most money earned in season. The record was set by Lorena Ochoa in 2007 at $4,364,994, back when the total prize money was about half of what it is now. Ochoa earned $1 million for winning the Tour Championship in 2007. The opening round followed a big night of awards for the LPGA Tour, where Korda officially picked up her first award as player of the year, which she clinched earlier this month . Ko was recognized for her big year, highlighted by an Olympic gold medal that put her into the LPGA Hall of Fame. She regained plenty of focus for the opening round on a course where she won just two years ago. “The course isn’t easy,” Ko said. “I set a goal of shooting 3 under today, and somebody shot 8 under. I was like, ‘OK, maybe I need to make a few more birdies.’ It’s a course that can get away from you as much as you can shoot some low scores, so I’m just trying to stick to my game plan and go from there.” Also in the group at 67 was Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland, already celebrating a big year with her debut in the Solheim Cup and her first appearance in the Tour Championship. She made a late run at her first LPGA title last week at Pelican Golf Club, and kept up her form. And she can see the finish line, which is appealing. “I everyone is looking at that $4 million price tag,” Valenzuela said. “I try not to look too much at the result. I feel like in the past I’ve always been stuck on results, and ultimately all I can do is control my own round, my own energy, my own commitment. “It’s the last week of the year. It’s kind of the bonus week. No matter what, everyone is having a paycheck.” ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf9 million to gain from 24-hour Perkeso cover