Ko grabs birdie blitz
Kiwi star bounces back after four straight bogeys with superb work on final five holes.
Six holes into her second round at the US Open it seemed Lydia Ko would be battling to make the cut yesterday (New Zealand time).
Four straight bogeys starting from the third hole saw the world No 4 drop back to even par for the tournament after a strong opening round.
Another dropped shot at the 11th hole and the two-time major winner was struggling for the day.
But the 20-year-old Kiwi bounced back with a superb final five holes where she recorded four birdies to sit in the top 10 late on day two at Trump National, New Jersey.
Ko’s reversal of form came just as US President Donald Trump arrived at the course as the Kiwi ended up firing a 1-over 73 to be 3-under for the tournament. Ko sits five shots behind leader Shanshan Feng, who opened a two-shot lead by the end of the second round.
Fresh from a Bastille Day celebration in Paris, Trump pulled into his course late in the afternoon, visited his president’s box next to the 14th green less than two hours later and played to the crowd, waving at the fans, giving them the thumbs up and pumping his fist.
That’s what a president can do for crowds not used to being within a 100 yards of one. Many of Trump’s critics had hoped he would stay away from the $5 million tournament because of his comments about women and the fear that he would steal the spotlight.
Only three sitting presidents have attended USGA events with Warren G. Harding (1921) and Bill Clinton (1997) going to the US Open.
Feng was the star on the course for the second straight day. The 27-year-old Chinese player shot a 2-under 70 and had a 36-hole total of 8-under 136 on the 6,732-yard course that played even longer because of rain over the past two days.
Amy Yang of South Korea continued her good play in the Women’s Open and remained in second place, although her deficit grew to two shots after a 71. Yang has four topfive finishes in this event in the past five years.
Jeongeun6 Lee, who has had a win and 10 top-10 finishes on the KLPGA Tour, shared second after posting a second straight 69.
Lee uses the “6” after her first name because there are six other South Korean players with the same name.
Hye-Jin Choice, a 17-year-old from South Korea who is the world’s second-ranked amateur, also was at 6-under after a second straight 69. She was tied with Feng at 8-under after 15 holes, but bogeyed two of her next three holes to fall back.
Seon Woo Bae, a winner in South Korea last year, was alone in fifth place at 5-under after a 69.
Top-ranked So Yeon Ryu (72) and 2015 winner In Gee Chun (70) topped the group at 4-under, while Marina Alex (70) of Wayne, New Jersey was the top American at 3-under.
Joining Alex and Ko at 3-under was Brooke Henderson (71).
Earlier in the day, 2014 winner Michelle Wie withdrew because of a neck injury.
Among those missing the cut at 2-over were Brittany Lincicome, who said two weeks ago that Trump should not attend the tournament so the focus would be on the golfers, and Danielle Kang, who two weeks ago won the KPMG Women’s PGA.
Second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn and two-time Open champion Inbee Park also missed the cut.