Smith fires 67 at US Women’s Open
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sarah Jane Smith outpaced the thunderstorms and the rest of the field at the U.S. Women’s Open.
The Australian extended her lead to four strokes after a second straight 5under 67 Friday at Shoal Creek. Smith got her round in before a 2-hour, 49minute delay caused by thunderstorms, weather that ultimately forced play to be halted with a little daylight left.
Now, she enters the weekend leading a major championship, unfamiliar territory, but also with 36 holes down. Other contenders like Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn still must finish Round 2, which will be completed on Saturday with the low 60 scorers plus ties making the cut. Half the field didn’t finish the round.
Smith is at 10-under 134 heading into the weekend after failing to make the cut in five of her previous six U.S. Women’s Open tries.
“I haven’t been in the position before, I but I hope to show up like it’s another day,” Smith said. “I’m happy with the way I’m playing. I feel comfortable on the greens which has been something that has been a little bit off lately. So it’s nice to be able to feel like I’m seeing the greens really well and seeing some putts go in.”
Smith has staged a strong comeback after having missed the cut in five straight LPGA Tour events this year, even switching back to an old set of clubs.
Jutanugarn had an opening birdie to move to 6 under through eight holes. Lee fell back to 2 under with a secondday 75. Korean-born Su-Hyun Oh shot 68 and is also 6 under.
PGA Tour
DUBLIN, Ohio – Joaquin Niemann could figure out where Tiger Woods was on the golf course from the mass of people following him a few groups ahead, and he had a pretty good idea what he was doing from all the noise, at least before Woods put a putter in his hands.
“There was so many people,” Niemann said.
The few that stuck behind for the 19year-old Chilean saw another good show.
In his fifth start as a pro, Niemann finished with two birdies over his last three holes for a 4-under 68 and a share of the lead with Kyle Stanley, who had a 66. He finished with an 8-foot birdie on the 18th hole.
Woods made Muirfield Village sound like a rock concert until storms arrived. He holed out with a sand wedge from 97 yards for eagle on the par-5 11th hole, and then his tee shot on the par-3 12th struck the flag waving in the wind and settled 6 feet behind the hole.
And then he sat out a weather delay that lasted just under 90 minutes, and he missed four putts under 7 feet the rest of the way.