Tag: U.S. Womens Open 2020

CME Group Tour Championship: Jin Young Ko is in the field; Sophia Popov is out

Jin Young Ko’s runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open propelled her into the CME Group Tour Championship but another major champ didn’t make it.

HOUSTON – Jin Young Ko and Sophia Popov are both headed to Naples, Florida, following the conclusion of the 75th U.S. Women’s Open. Ko’s second-place finish in Houston propelled her into this week’s CME Group Tour Championship. Popov isn’t in the field; she just happens to live there.

Popov, of course, won the AIG Women’s British Open in August. Because she was a non-member at the time, she did not earn the 625 points typically awarded for first place toward the Race to the CME Globe standings. The field was expanded to 72 players this year (including two sponsor exemptions). Popov finished 82nd on the final points list; she would’ve finished 16th if the AIG had counted.

Popov, who recently bought a house in Naples, thought she then might get one of the two sponsor exemptions that were on the table. On the eve of the opening round at the Pelican Women’s Championship last month, she found out those went to Natalie Gulbis and Sarah Kemp. Popov said she was shocked, saying that she felt she deserved to be there.

“It’s a fairness thing as far as playing ability,” said Popov. “It’s not like I haven’t earned it. It’s like I have earned it points-wise, technically.”

Terry Duffy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CME Group, told Golfweek that he wanted those two sponsor exemptions to ensure that his two ambassadors – Cheyenne Knight and Kemp – got into the field.

Typically, there are no sponsor exemptions for the CME, and Duffy said there won’t be any going forward. Like so many things about 2020, this was an exception. After Knight qualified on her own, Duffy had one more spot to fill.

“I’ve known Natalie since 2005, when I did my first event with clients,” said Duffy, who noted that Gulbis was instrumental in his decision to take the step toward title-sponsoring an event.

In January, Gulbis announced that she’d be retiring after the 2020 season. She then told the Toledo Blade back in August that she’d be returning in 2021 because there weren’t any fans out for most of the season.

LPGA Chief Tour Operations Officer Heather Daly-Donofrio said sponsor-exemption decisions are at the discretion of each week’s title sponsor, without input from the LPGA, as a benefit for their investment and partnership.

“The decision to add sponsor exemptions for the CME Group Tour Championship is for this year only,” said Daly-Donofrio. “In this abnormal 2020 year, the CME Group Tour Championship is slightly different than in the past, allowing more players in the field and offering two sponsor invites. In 2021, we expect to return to a 60-player field that is filled strictly off the Race for the CME Globe rankings.”

In 2019, the CME Group Tour Championship offered the biggest payday in women’s golf history – $1.5 million to winner Sei Young Kim. Duffy also raised the purse to $5 million, thereby raising the bar for the entire tour.

Ko earned enough points in just three starts on the LPGA, leaping up to 46th on the points list with finishes of 34th, fifth and second. The World No. 1 spent most of 2020 back home in her native South Korea.

“This week is my best finish at the U.S. Open, so I can play next week, as well,” said Ko. “I’m really thankful. This season is too tough with coronavirus, so I want to say thanks to USGA and all the volunteers.”

With Amy Olson, Ally Ewing and Marina Alex not playing this week, Brittany Lincicome, Anne van Dam and Maria Torres made it into the field.

The 72-hole no-cut event will offer a purse of $3 million. The winner will receive a check of $1.1 million, the highest first-place check on the LPGA.

Popov won’t be the only 2020 major champion missing from the field. U.S. Women’s Open A Lim Kim won’t be there either. Like Popov, she will have the option to accept a two-year membership for the tour beginning in 2021.

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Grief-stricken, gutsy Amy Olson finishes second at U.S. Women’s Open: ‘I allowed myself to think about what I’m grateful for’

Amy Olson fought hard for a U.S. Women’s Open title a day after learning about the unexpected death of her father-in-law.

HOUSTON – Amy Olson knew that she’d need to stay mentally disciplined to make it through the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open. Her father-in-law, Lee Olson, a tough West Point grad who had a soft spot for the women in his life, died unexpectedly on Saturday evening. Husband Grant flew home to be with his mother and brother and prepare for the funeral.

That left Olson back in Houston, battling in the bitter cold for her first LPGA title – the crown jewel of women’s golf. At so many points throughout the past two days, Olson said she felt weak and helpless. She leaned into her strong faith to push through.

“I allowed myself to think about what I’m grateful for,” she said tearing up, “and I’ve got a long list.”

After Sunday’s final round was delayed to Monday, a gutsy Olson took the solo lead at Champions Golf Club early on in the back nine as overnight leader Hinako Shibuno began to falter. The 28-year-old North Dakota State legend thought it would be a head-to-head battle with the Japanese star down the stretch.

U.S. Women’s Open: Scores | Photos | Winner’s bag | Money

No one could’ve predicted the late surge from little-known A Lim Kim, who birdied the last three holes to shoot a remarkable 4-under 67 and become the fifth player to win the U.S. Women’s Open in her first attempt. Only four players finished the tournament under par, with Kim topping the field at 3-under 281.

Olson’s chances took a deep hit when she went long on the par-4 16th and failed to get up and down.

“I had 180 to the pin and I needed to carry it about 170, based on my math to carry that bunker,” she said. “My 5-iron, I hit a cut 5-iron on the previous hole and it had flown 152. So I’m sitting there, and there’s no way I can pull that club. I tried to hit a high cut hybrid, which I pulled off beautifully, but it just –  I don’t know if it caught a little downwind gust or anything, but obviously it didn’t hold the green and got kind of a tough lie behind the green and didn’t make it up-and-down.”

A final birdie on the 72nd hole moved Olson into a share of second with World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who birdied two of her last three holes to card a 3-under 68.

As Olson made her way to scoring, Ko stopped her to offer condolences on the family’s loss.

“I cried a little,” said Ko, “and she cried too.”

As Olson made her way around the Cypress Creek course, she could be seen singing on the fairways. The lyrics to Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up,” were a comfort to her, particularly the line – “You raise me up to walk on stormy waters.”

Olson won’t compete in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Now is the time to be with family. Amy married Grant, a linebackers coach at their alma mater North Dakota State, three years ago on a Tuesday because it fit their hectic on-the-road schedules. She said her father-in-law loved to hunt and fish, and that they had a special relationship.

“I really believe the Lord just carried me through,” said Olson of her heavy-hearted day. “It just makes you realize how much bigger life is than golf.”

 

How much money each player won at the U.S. Women’s Open

Check out how much money each player earned at the U.S. Women’s Open.

For the second consecutive year, the field at the U.S. Women’s Open was competing for $5.5 million, with the winner taking home $1 million.

A Lim Kim won her first major title – in her U.S. Women’s Open debut – by making birdie on her final three holes, claiming the title at 3 under after carding a 4-under 67 in Monday’s final round.

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko rallied to finish T-2 at 2 under alongside Amy Olson, who led by two with seven holes to play despite receiving devastating family news this weekend.

Check out how much money each player won this week at the U.S. Women’s Open.

U.S. Women’s Open: Leaderboard | Photos | Winner’s bag

U.S. Women’s Open prize money

Place Player Score Earnings
1 A Lim Kim -3 $1,000,000
T2 Jin Young Ko -2 $487,286
T2 Amy Olson -2 $487,286
4 Hinako Shibuno -1 $266,779
5 Megan Khang 1 $222,201
T6 Inbee Park 2 $177,909
T6 Jeongeun Lee6 2 $177,909
T6 Moriya Jutanugarn 2 $177,909
T9 Ariya Jutanugarn 3 $143,976
T9 Kaitlyn Papp (a) 3 —
T11 MinYoung2 Lee 4 $126,465
T11 Sayaka Takahashi 4 $126,465
T13 Gabriela Ruffels (a) 5 —
T13 Eri Okayama 5 $96,800
T13 Linnea Strom 5 $96,800
T13 Yuka Saso 5 $96,800
T13 Maja Stark (a) 5 —
T13 Hae Ran Ryu 5 $96,800
T13 Lydia Ko 5 $96,800
T20 Ally Ewing 6 $74,219
T20 So Yeon Ryu 6 $74,219
T20 Sei Young Kim 6 $74,219
T23 Chella Choi 7 $55,526
T23 Jessica Korda 7 $55,526
T23 Nasa Hataoka 7 $55,526
T23 Jenny Shin 7 $55,526
T23 Sarah Schmelzel 7 $55,526
T23 Linn Grant (a) 7 —
T23 Cristie Kerr 7 $55,526
T30 Charley Hull 8 $36,915
T30 Hye-Jin Choi 8 $36,915
T30 Ashleigh Buhai 8 $36,915
T30 Lauren Stephenson 8 $36,915
T30 Madelene Sagstrom 8 $36,915
T30 Jennifer Kupcho 8 $36,915
T30 Bronte Law 8 $36,915
T30 Cheyenne Knight 8 $36,915
T30 Ingrid Lindblad (a) 8 —
T30 Ji Yeong2 Kim 8 $36,915
T40 Sophia Popov 9 $27,067
T40 Hannah Green 9 $27,067
T40 Perrine Delacour 9 $27,067
T40 Yealimi Noh 9 $27,067
T44 Brooke M. Henderson 10 $23,576
T44 Stacy Lewis 10 $23,576
T46 Minjee Lee 11 $19,570
T46 Gaby Lopez 11 $19,570
T46 Brittany Lincicome 11 $19,570
T46 Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (a) 11 —
T46 Lizette Salas 11 $19,570
T46 Lindsey Weaver 11 $19,570
T52 Danielle Kang 12 $15,736
T52 Seon Woo Bae 12 $15,736
T54 Jennifer Song 13 $13,447
T54 Mone Inami 13 $13,447
T54 Anna Nordqvist 13 $13,447
T54 Azahara Munoz 13 $13,447
T58 Mi Hyang Lee 14 $12,360
T58 Pernilla Lindberg 14 $12,360
60 Yui Kawamoto 15 $12,131
T61 Mina Harigae 16 $11,960
T61 Mamiko Higa 16 $11,960
T63 Na Rin An 17 $11,731
T63 Jodi Ewart Shadoff 17 $11,731
65 Kana Mikashima 19 $11,559
66 Su Oh 20 $11,444

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With a top-10 finish, Kaitlyn Papp earns low-am honors and a U.S. Women’s Open return

Kaitlyn Papp finished inside the top 10 at the U.S. Women’s Open to wrap up low-amateur honors.

In the final hours of a Monday finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, it looked as if an amateur might take home the title. At one point, recent Texas graduate Kaitlyn Papp was staring down a birdie putt to get within a single shot of the lead at Champions Golf Club in Houston.

Papp’s perennial presence near the top of the leaderboard assured that amateurs were always in the conversation on a week when 24 of them were among the 156-woman field. She is one of just two amateurs in the past 10 years to have been in the top 10 after each of the last three rounds at the U.S. Women’s Open. Hye-Jin Choi accomplished that in 2017.

A double-bogey at No. 11, followed by bogeys at Nos. 13 and 14, may have ended Papp’s title pursuit, but her closing 74 still locked in low-amateur honors for the native Texan and landed her in a tie for ninth. That top-10 finish guarantees her a spot in next year’s championship, which will be in June at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

“I learned that I can pretty much handle whatever conditions come our way,” Papp said of contending at a major. “We experienced perfect weather, we experienced kind of difficult weather this week. I think I just learned that I’m pretty mentally tough out there.”

Papp, a 22-year-old Austin native who got her degree in physical culture and sports in three and a half years at the University of Texas, was one of seven Texans in the field. Even though that group owns a combined three major titles, Papp logged the only top-10 finish among them.

U.S. Women’s Open: Scores | Photos | Winner’s bag | Money

Like many players, she appeared in a stocking cap – burnt orange, her school colors – and layered clothing on Monday as a cold snap dropped the temperature into the 50s. She was prepared for the wind, though Monday produced little.

“I think it’s an advantage because year-round, it’s pretty much windy, the majority of the year,” Papp said before the championship when asked how local knowledge might come in to play. “I’m kind of used to playing in the wind. Whenever I see in the forecast it’s a north wind, I know it’s going to be cold.”

That was Monday.

Rounds of 71-68-74 were enough to get Papp into the second-to-last group for the final round, alongside world No. 1 Jin Young Ko. She was high enough on the leaderboard that she didn’t hit a shot in competition on Sunday, when most of the round was delayed because of thunderstorms.

“Initially my goal here was just to make the cut, and I ended up playing really great golf and found myself somewhat in contention this weekend,” Papp said. “I mean, I was just thrilled just to be in that group.”

Papp appeared to have low-amateur honors all but locked up until Gabi Ruffels, the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, got on a run with birdies at Nos. 11, 13 and 14. When Ruffels bogeyed the 17th hole, however, she dropped back to 5 over, two behind Papp and in a share of 13th.

Maja Stark, a Swede who plays for Oklahoma State, joined her there.

Among the three other amateurs who made the cut, Arizona State’s Linn Grant finished T-23 at 7 over, Ingrid Lindblad was T-30 at 8 over and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard was T-46 at 11 over.

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U.S. Women’s Open rookie A Lim Kim rallies for a major title on a cold Texas Monday

A Lim Kim came from behind to win the U.S. Women’s Open in her first start in that tournament.

Midday on an unusual Monday finish at the U.S. Women’s Open – played in December, even more unusual – the title seemed firmly within Amy Olson’s grasp. The North Dakota native, bundled up, like most players, to battle a South Texas cold snap had a two-shot advantage shortly after making the turn at Champions Golf Club in Houston.

Then A Lim Kim went on a run.

Playing three groups ahead of Olson, South Korea’s Kim made clutch birdies at Nos. 16-18 coming down the stretch. The birdie at No. 17 – which came off an approach Kim hit to 2 feet – allowed her to pull even with Olson at 2 under. Kim’s final birdie gave her the solo lead, and ultimately the title, at 3 under.

Olson was not only playing for her first major title, but her first LPGA title. Olson couldn’t get much going on the back nine, and ultimately ended her chances with a bogey on No. 16 even though she birdied the 18th to tie for second with world No. 1 Jin Young Ko. She is, however, already  USGA champion, having won the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Kim, 25 and ranked No. 94 in the Rolex Rankings, started the week among the 41 first-time U.S. Women’s Open competitors in the field. She has won twice on the Korean LPGA tour.

Kim was sitting with a cup of coffee in player dining when she was doused by her friends with champagne bottles, as is customary on the LPGA. Kim will carry off a $1 million first-place prize for the week.

Kim is the 10th U.S. Women’s Open winner from South Korea in the past 16 years.

“Can’t really describe in words,” Kim said through a translator when asked what that means for golf in her country. “Never expected that I was going to appear in the U.S. Women’s Open. With this win, still can’t feel what it’s like right now. Probably feel it when today’s tournament and the ceremony wraps up.”

Shortly after signing for her final-round 67, Kim and her caddie giggled through the complete cleaning out of her golf bag to find her cell phone, which she had dropped in the bottom of the bag.

It might be a good thing to keep handy considering there could be a few congratulatory messages coming in for Kim on Monday afternoon.

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U.S. Women’s Open: Contender Amy Olson suffers heartbreaking loss on eve of final round

Amy Olson’s father-in-law, Lee Olson, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday night as Amy contends in the U.S. Women’s Open.

Amy Olson emerged from the clubhouse on Sunday morning and took a shuttle ride to the opposite end of the range with her caddie, Taneka Sandiford. They spent a little time away from the world on a practice green, quietly preparing alone for the final round of a major, where Olson trails by a single stroke.

Not long after they made it back over to the packed end of the range at Champions Golf Club, good friend Ally Ewing came over to give Olson a warm embrace.

By then news had begun to spread of the Olson family’s heartbreaking loss: Amy’s father-in-law, Lee Olson, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday night, the LPGA confirmed to Golfweek on Amy’s behalf. Grant Olson had flown into Houston this weekend to watch his wife’s bid to win the 75th U.S. Women’s Open and was onsite Sunday morning at Champions.

Mother Nature delayed the start of that heavy-hearted bid as play was suspended at 9:10 a.m. local time, 25 minutes before Olson was set to tee off alongside leader Hinako Shibuno and Moriya Jutanugarn. Three and a half hours later, played was suspended for the day.

The LPGA confirmed that Grant went home to to be with his mom and brother.

Grant and Amy Olson (nee Anderson) are two of the most decorated athletes to ever come out of North Dakota State. Grant is now a linebackers coach at their alma mater, and with football season delayed, he originally stayed back this week for hunting season, but came to Texas after Amy played her way into contention.

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The couple got married in cowboy boots on a Tuesday in 2017 because it worked out best with their hectic schedules. After a stint at Indiana State, Grant returned to North Dakota State in 2019 and helped the Bison to a 16-0 record and eighth NCAA Division I FCS title in nine years. During Amy’s time at NDSU, she won an NCAA record-tying 20 titles, eclipsing the mark of 17 set by Juli Inkster.

Olson, 28, has yet to win on the LPGA but has contended several times in a major, playing in the final group at both the 2018 ANA Inspiration and 2018 Evian Championship. She ultimately finished ninth at Mission Hills after a tough final round. A closing double-bogey in France later that year dashed Olson’s major hopes again as Angela Stanford took the title.

U.S. Women’s Open: Leaderboard | Photos | Winner’s bag

Grant watched that final round in France unfold from home after a late football game against Eastern Illinois. When it was over, he said something along the lines of “I love you more now than I did yesterday” and that was all she needed to hear.

Earlier this week, Olson was asked if it has been difficult to stay patient on the LPGA after winning so much as an amateur player. Olson, who was a rookie in 2014, said she had certainly expected victory to come early.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned,” she said, “is just perspective, and what do I consider success? And at the end of my life, it’s not going to be a number of tournaments that I’ve won. It’s how I live my life, so trying to maintain that perspective, I think, is really important for me.”

The Olsons are strong in their faith, and that big-picture perspective is never lost on Amy, who has always felt a deep passion for people.

That deep passion will come back to her now, as the tour family will undoubtedly wrap its arms around a player who has always loved so well.

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Play suspended at 75th U.S. Women’s Open on a stormy Sunday in Houston

Play was suspended due to dangerous weather at the 75th U.S. Women’s Open at 9:10 a.m. local time.

HOUSTON – World No. 1 Jin Young and amateur Kaitlyn Papp didn’t make it off the first tee box on Sunday morning before play was suspended due to dangerous weather at the 75th U.S. Women’s Open at 10:10 a.m. ET (9:10 a.m. local time). Lydia Ko looked up in shock on the range at Champions Golf Club when she heard the blast through her AirPods.

A total of six groups had yet to tee off before play was halted.

On Saturday, USGA officials moved up tee times for Sunday with the final round starting at 8:45 a.m. ET (7:45 a.m. local). Players were again starting on the 1st and 10th tees of Champions Golf Club’s Cypress Creek Course.

Former No. 1 and 2018 U.S. Women’s Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn managed to birdie the first hole to pull to even par, four strokes behind leader Hinako Shibuno. Amateur Linn Grant is 1 under on the day through three holes and in a share of 14th.

The USGA’s official forecast calls for additional storms to move into the Houston area around lunchtime as a cold front makes its way in. Rainfall totals for the day were predicted to be half an inch.

The storms are expected to clear for Monday, when temperatures are expected to drop and a strong, gusty wind comes in from the north.

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Texas amateur Kaitlyn Papp hangs tough at U.S. Women’s Open, trails by four

Texas Longhorns senior Kaitlyn Papp is hanging tough at the U.S. Women’s Open.

HOUSTON – Kaitlyn Papp first picked up a golf club, a cut-down putter, on the island of Okinawa where her dad, Tony, was stationed as a Navy Medical Service Corps officer.

“We would practice putting next to the flight line,” said Tony. “The green perched up nice and high and we could look out and watch the jets come in and come out.”

The Papps lived in Japan from 2003 to 2007. They could’ve never dreamed back then that Kaitlyn, now 22, would grow up to play alongside one of Japan’s biggest sports stars – Hinako Shibuno – in the final group at a major championship.

But there she was on Saturday at the 75th U.S. Women’s Open, holding tough in what amounted to a survival contest at muddy Cypress Creek. The Texas Longhorn had expected as much coming into the week and believes it favors her chances.

U.S. Women’s Open: Leaderboard | Photos

Kaitlyn Papp (left) congratulates Hinako Shibuno following the conclusion of the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club. (Photo: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports)

“I think so because when the conditions get tough,” said Papp, “you really have to be mentally strong and you can’t let yourself complain, no matter how bad it is.”

Only one amateur has ever won the U.S. Women’s Open, and that was Frenchwoman Catherine Lacoste in 1967. Papp trails Shibuno, the 2019 AIG Women’s British Open winner, by four strokes after a couple of late bogeys dropped her into a share of fifth.

Tony grew up playing soccer and became a place-kicker on the football team at Lenoir–Rhyne University. He picked up golf as a teenager as a way to de-stress. It was a bit of an accident, he said, that Kaitlyn wound up becoming high-level amateur player.

From Japan, the Papps moved to Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps Base near Wilmington, North Carolina. That’s where Kaitlyn received her first PGA instruction from retired sergeant major Grant Beck. She started competing in U.S. Kids events and her passion for the game grew from there. In 2010, the family moved to San Antonio.

Tony retired from the Navy after 20 years and now works as an occupational therapist at a hand therapy practice in Austin. Kaitlyn went to high school at Lake Travis with LPGA player Kristen Gillman, and holds the University of Texas school record for career stroke average at 71.91. She was the Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2018 and wrapped up a degree in Physical Culture & Sports in 3 ½ years. On Friday night, Papp turned in her final term paper. She missed the deadline and attached a note of apology.

Earlier this week, Papp found out that she’d been accepted into grad school at Texas for the sports management program.

Texas associate head coach Kate Golden, an LPGA winner who competed on the tour for nearly 20 years, is on Papp’s bag this week preaching patience. Papp’s boyfriend, Jake Budde, sister Katherine and parents (Tony and Julie) round out her onsite crew at Champions Golf Club.

Papp downplayed any pressure she might have felt on the weekend of a major, noting the amount of support she felt from the houses along the golf course, given that there’s no general admission this week.

“I definitely felt kind of a hometown crowd,” said Papp. “There’s a lot of Longhorns in the houses. Everyone is in their backyards watching, and I had my family out, so I didn’t really feel pressure. It just kind of felt like home.”

Top Amateur Finishes in U.S. Women’s Open History

Finish Player
1 Catherine Lacoste (1967)
2 Betsy Rawls (1950)
2 Barbara McIntire (1956)
2 Jenny Chuasiriporn (1998)
2 Hye-Jin Choi (2017)
T-2 Nancy Lopez (1975)
T-2 Polly Riley (1947)
T-2 Morgan Pressel (2005)
T-2 Brittany Lang (2005)
T-2 Sally Sessions (1947)

 

U.S. Women’s Open: No shortage of mud balls at soggy Cypress Creek, where a ‘Cinderella’ still leads

There were no shortage of mud balls on a soggy Saturday at Cypress Creek, where a ‘Cinderella’ still leads the U.S. Women’s Open.

HOUSTON – The USGA has never played the ball up. Not once in 125 years. And that wasn’t going to change for the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open, no matter how much mud caked on golf balls at soggy Champions Golf Club.

2020 is an extraordinary year by every measure. But still not crazy enough to play lift, clean and place at a USGA major.

“There were about 18 of them,” said Amy Olson, when asked about her mud ball count. “I mean, at one point I laughed and it was like, is it going to be in a divot or a mud ball, because it was one or the other pretty much all day. So I’m really hoping that we either do lift, clean and place or it’s so wet tomorrow that the water just pulls the mud off, I don’t know.”

Olson trails Japan’s Hinako Shibuno by a single stroke heading into the final round of the 75thU.S. Women’s Open. The Smiling Cinderella led by three heading into the weekend but saw that advantage shrink considerably after a 3-over 74 at Cypress Creek.

“I myself was very nervous,” she admitted.

U.S. Women’s Open: Leaderboard | Photos

Shibuno shocked the golf world last year when she won the AIG Women’s British Open. While she’s still not yet a member of the LPGA (she declined membership), Shibuno has the chance to join Se Ri Pak and In Gee Chun as the only players in history to win majors as their first two LPGA titles.

A bogey on the 18th, however, brought a host of big names back into the mix for Sunday. Six players have come from as far back as five strokes to win this championship.

The group at 1 over includes current No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn,  Sei Young Kim, and Cristie Kerr.

Ji Yeong Kim2 teed off in the last group on No. 10 on Saturday and managed to play her way into the penultimate group on Sunday off the first hole thanks to a bogey-free 67.  The 24-year-old Korean LPGA player is making her USWO debut this week. Kim2’s 67 was the best score of the day by three shots. South Korea’s Hae Ran Ryu was the only other player (70) to break par.

“I really didn’t expect to be performing so well,” said Kim2 through an interpreter, “and I’m just glad to be here.”

A late-round double-bogey moved Moriya Jutanugarn down to a share of third, three strokes back. Moriya played alongside her younger sister, 2018 USWO champion Ariya, in the third round.

“Every time after I hit my tee shot,” said Ariya, “I look back, she like 30 behind, but she hit closer. And then when I hit on the green, she make the putt and I miss the putt. So it’s kind of made me feel like I have to work on a lot of things, I have to improve my game after I play with her.”

Only three players managed to stay under par through three rounds. Former No. 1 Lydia Ko is among those at even par, along with young rookie hotshot Yealimi Noh, who played the final group last week at the LPGA stop in Dallas, Megan Khang and Texas amateur Kaitlyn Papp.

“I was talking to (caddie) Les (Luark),” said Ko, “and we had some (mud) on one shot on No. 2 and it’s like, ‘Do I need to aim like on the next tee box for it to like move?’ Because it’s really hard … it’s not like there’s an exact science – or maybe there is, I just don’t know that I guess equation on how to factor mud balls.”

Inbee Park said she hit 3-wood seven or eight times into the greens, and nearly every single shot she dealt with a muddy ball.

The USGA moved tee times up for Sunday with more rain in the forecast. The final group goes off at 9:35 a.m. local time. Kerr, the 2007 champion, felt the course played fair on Saturday despite the conditions.

“Doubt USGA will play it up,” she said, “but they should consider it. It’s pretty muddy out there.”

Cypress Creek played to a 74.697 scoring average in the third round, more than a full stroke higher than Friday’s round.

Stacy Lewis’ bid to win a major in her hometown seemingly went up in smoke when she triple-bogeyed the par-4 14th after finding the hazard. A 6-over 77 dropped her to eight back of the lead.

Shibuno said she needed time to adjust to the overnight celebrity status she enjoyed after that first major championship victory. From the outside, at least, she looks comfortable being back in control at a major.

“Just recently I was able to get rid of my shell, so to speak,” she said, “so that I can be myself again.”

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Lydia Ko staying patient at U.S. Women’s Open: ‘Par’s sometimes not a bad score’

While many in the pack struggled with soggy fairways at Champions Golf Club, Lydia Ko just kept making pars at the U.S. Women’s Open.

The holidays are a time to be thankful, maintain perspective, and appreciate the little things. Lydia Ko tried to do all of this on Saturday, realizing that her 72 in the third round of the 75th U.S. Women’s Open certainly wasn’t Christmas-lights flashy, but it’s also not something to bemoan consider the conditions players were facing.

In fact, while many in the pack struggled with soggy fairways at Champions Golf Club — for example, Stacy Lewis, who is a member here, shot a 77 on Saturday — Ko just kept making pars. She finished the day with 15 alongside a pair of bogeys and a single birdie, and she’s still within range of the leaders heading into Sunday, sitting at even par through three rounds of play.

She’s thankful to be in a tie for fifth with Yealimi Noh, Megan Khang and amateur Kaitlyn Papp.

“Everyone’s playing in pretty much the same course conditions, as the tee time spans are pretty tight, so it’s just trying to grind my way out there,” Ko said. “Obviously, I feel like I could have shot a lower score, but at the same time I think it could have been a lot worse, so I’ll take what I have today.”

What she had was consistency. Ko, who has two major victories under her belt, has not fared well in U.S. Women’s Opens outside of a T-3 at CordeValle Golf Club in 2016. But she putted well on Saturday and remained in contention.

USWO: Leaderboard | Photos

And speaking of consistency, that’s exactly what Ko used to describe the greens at Champions, despite the varying conditions. Thursday was warm and sunny, Friday saw hard rain and Saturday brought a chill, yet the greens remained stable, she said.

“I think that they have been pretty consistent. I really struggled with my green speed, the control on the first day and I was like, man, I can’t putt this way because it’s just, there’s too much grinding out there,” she said. “Sometimes you’re going to have those longer putts, so it’s really important to kind of dial in the green speed and distance control.

“But I feel like I’ve been doing that a lot better the last couple of days, so I’ve been trying to putt a little bit more downhill putts and just stay patient. Sometimes, you keep kind of going on the par train and you’re like, OK, when is there going to be like a good turnaround? But, no, around a course like this and especially at majors, par’s sometimes not a bad score.”

Aside from being thankful for her even-keeled round, Ko is happy with the season she’s had concerning the majors. She finished in the top 20 in the three previous majors this season, including a sixth-place finish at the ANA Inspiration.

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“I think this is probably the best stretch I’ve had in the majors, outside of probably in 2016,” she said. “But I think the more times you put yourself in that position and in those kinds of pressure conditions I think the more you get used to it and things go your way you could be the one that’s hosting the trophy at the end of the Sunday.

“I think it is really important, not only in majors, but in other events, to just keep playing consistently and if you keep putting yourself in that position, I feel like at some point if it is your time it’s going to fall your way.”

Of course, Ko will need to play well on Sunday and hope that leader Hinako Shibuno comes back to the pack. As for the leader — who always seems to be happy and even has the nickname “Smiling Cinderella” — Ko said she keeps using her cheerful disposition for positive results.

“I feel like it’s either a great poker face or she’s that smiling assassin. I feel like I smile quite a lot out there, but I’m like pretty grumpy compared to her,” Ko said of Shibuno. “I think she’s stayed pretty calm and you saw her at the British Open, I’m sure, going into that Sunday there were, there might have been doubts, because not many people have heard of her compared to some other players.

“But she showed them who is boss and she’s clearly doing that right now.”

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