Sometimes, Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor. That's exactly what the LPGA stars faced during the second round of the Mizuho Americas Open at Mountain Ridge in West Caldwell, New Jersey. What should have been a pleasant early May day turned into a blustery, cold battle that felt more like a November slog than a spring stroll.

The course itself is already a formidable test—a major-level layout that demands precision and patience. But when you add in spitting rain and gusty winds that cut through layers like a knife, you get a recipe for a true grind. Many of the top players saw their scores climb compared to Thursday's opening round, struggling to find any rhythm in the challenging conditions.

Celine Boutier, who carded a solid 4-under 68 to sit fourth on the leaderboard, described the morning's harsh realities. "It was quite chilly this morning when we got out on the course. And then the wind started picking up when I was halfway through the front nine, and it's just been blowing quite hard the last hour or two," she said.

Jennifer Kupcho, the current clubhouse leader, took advantage of calmer early conditions. She birdied four of the front nine and played the rest clean, though two bogeys on the back nine reminded everyone that Mountain Ridge doesn't give anything away. "Come the back nine when it was windy, as it is right now, I think you kind of have to be a little bit careful," Kupcho explained. "The greens are really fast, so you just have to think about it and be careful about what you're doing."

When asked about her layered outfit, Kupcho smiled. "I'm from Colorado, so I'm used to the cold. I mean, it's not bad until the wind picks up."

For fans and players alike, this round was a reminder that golf is as much about adapting to the elements as it is about swing mechanics. And when you're battling both a major-level course and unseasonable weather, every shot counts—and every warm layer is a smart choice.