Ko survives the cut

The young and the old: Lydia Ko is given her line by caddie to some of the greats such as Tiger Woods, Mike ‘‘Fluff’’ Cowan, on the 13th hole during the second round of the 69th U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Golf A plucky Lydia Ko has survived the cut at the women’s US Open. Ko shot an improved one-over 71 yesterday on the tough Pinehurst course in North Carolina. The score followed her opening round sixover 76 with Ko posting two birdies and three bogeys on her way around Pinehurst No 2, the same course used for last week’s men’s US Open, to make the cut by two shots. The 17-year-old Kiwi, in her rookie year on the pro tour, sits at seven over on the scoreboard after 36 holes, trailing the clubhouse leader Michelle Wie by 11 strokes. American Wie, who has shot backto-back two-under 68s, leads by three shots from countrywoman Lexie Thompson who shot a 68 as well. First-round leader Stacy Lewis is tied for third on level par after a 73 yesterday. When she finished her round, Ko was one shot outside the cut at six over. However, soon after the cut-line moved to seven over and she survived. Starting on the back nine, Ko started with three pars before bogeys at the par-four 13th and par-three 15th to sit at eight over for the event. A run of seven straight pars followed, before a birdie at the par-five fifth hole. The teen sensation immediately gave that shot back on the next hole before closing out her round with her second straight birdie on the par-three ninth.