US Women’s Open: Trump visits, China’s Feng leads

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Shanshan Feng opened a two-shot lead Friday after two rounds of a U.S. Women’s Open that got its first visit from a sitting president.

Fresh from a Bastille Day celebration in Paris, President Donald Trump pulled into his Trump National Golf Club around 3:40 p.m., 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.

Only three sitting presidents have attended USGA events with Warren G. Harding (1921) and Bill Clinton (1997) going to the U.S. Open.

Feng was the star on the course for the second straight day. The 27-yearold 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.

SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Bernhard Langer made five birdies on the back nine Friday to take a two-shot lead over Corey Pavin before rain suspended play late in the second round of the Constellation Senior Players Championship. The 59-yearold Langer was 6-under par through 16 holes and 13 under for the tournament. The three-time defending champion had his only bogey of the day on No. 1, a 360-yard par 4. Pavin was the clubhouse leader after shooting a 68. Brandt Jobe was at 10 under with two holes to play, and Scott

McCarron shot a 68 to get to 9 under at the midpoint.

SCOTTISH OPEN

Padraig Harrington shot a 4-under 68 to lead the Scottish Open by three strokes on 9 under midway through the second round Friday. The Irishman is showing good form on the links a week before playing the British Open at Royal Birkdale, where he lifted the claret jug in 2008 the last time the major was staged there. Harrington followed up an opening-round 67 by making four birdies in a light breeze and under overcast skies at Dundonald Links. He didn’t drop any shots. Matt Kuchar, the runner-up in 2015, shot 70 for second place in the clubhouse, one stroke ahead of overnight leader Mikko Ilonen (74). World No. 4

Rory McIlroy, on 2 over, was battling to avoid missing the cut when he teed off with

Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson in the afternoon’s marquee group.

JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

Patrick Rodgers shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to take a two-shot lead after the second round of the John Deere Classic. Rodgers had eight birdies and a bogey to finish at 13-under 129 at TPC Deere Run. Finishing on the front nine, he had five birdies in a seven-hole stretch before closing with a bogey on the par-4 ninth.

Bryson DeChambeau was second after a 65. Local favorite Zach Johnson, the 2012 winner, had a 67 to join Charles Howell III, the co-leader after the first round, at 10 under.