Pauline sweating buckets at Bukit Kiara, but she doesn’t mind

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard: ‘Let’s say that at least you get to eat way more because you have to make up for all the calories and all the sweat that we lose.’ — GLENN GUAN/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The scorching heat at Bukit Kiara pushed French golfer Pauline Roussin-Bouchard to her limits as she needed eight bottles of water and electrolytes without taking a single toilet break during the second day of the Maybank Championship.

The extreme temperature highlighted the physical demands on the players, with Roussin-Bouchard describing how much she had been sweating throughout the day at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

She shared second spot with Spaniard Julia Lopez Ramirez on 11-under 133, two shots behind leader and defending champion Miyu Yamashita of Japan.

Roussin-Bouchard shot a three-under 69 to add to her opening 64.

“I don’t know if I should say that on camera. I drank all day and didn’t go to the loo once.

“That is how hot it is out here. You just sweat everything out,” said Roussin-Bouchard

Her second round was a test of patience and resilience, with the French woman focusing on limiting mistakes after encountering difficult plugged bunker lies.

“Today was all about damage control,” she said.

“I was honestly trying not to get mad about it because I was playing really well and just like didn’t make that many putt.”

With recovery becoming a priority, Roussin-Bouchard planned an ice bath for her feet alongside her usual evening gym routine to help prepare for the next round.

“Let’s say that at least you get to eat way more because you have to make up for all the calories and all the sweat that we lose.

“I don’t mind it. I’m not going to lie. I think it makes it a little harder on the body, so a bit more of an effort, and it’s always nice,” she added.