Lydia Ko takes lead after 3rd round of US Women’s Open

Click the video above to see Ko’s clutch final putt.

Ko’s putting, usually a strong suit, has lived up to its reputation the past two days at CordeValle.

Kerr, playing in the same group with Mirim Lee, almost matched her stroke for stroke with players standing 3 under through their first 11 holes. The possibility is still there over the final 18 holes, she maintained.

She never bogeyed after the first hole and closed her afternoon with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to put her in good position entering the weekend.

American Cristie Kerr, the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open champion at Pine Needles, and Australia’s Minjee Lee carded 67s, while Swede Anna Nordqvist, Malaysia’s Kelly Tan and American Brittany Lang opened with 68s. Kris Tamulis and Danielle Kang, two more Americans, were tied with Lewis and Kerr for eighth.

Seven players are tied at 2 under, still solvent but in need of something spectacular when threesomes go off on Sunday.

Japan’s Haru Nomura fired a 3-under-69 to surge into a tie with Ko in fourth for a 139 two-day total.

“The most nervous I’ve ever been at any tournament is this event when I played it the first time at Blackwolf Run”, she said. Ji, Park and Yang are legitimate threats to win, particularly Ji, who won the 2009 U.S. Open and seemingly has the right temperament to win in the crucible of a major championship. But what happens rests largely with Ko. She followed that up with a victory in this year’s first major, the ANA Inspiration. “Four bogeys isn’t that bad around this golf course but if I would have made a few birdies, I’d feel a little bit better”. If somebody plays better than me, I can’t do much about it. That was a flawless example of that. And at that point, the professional golf was hardly a brand.

“I think everything was good”, Lee said.

“Just like another day”, Yang said. There is no fear in chasing.

This time she will try to come from behind to win after shooting 73 in the third round. Much like we are seeing with Tiger Woods, the 6-foot Wie’s lanky body is beginning to let her down at an alarmingly young age. Henderson then won the playoff.

Lee was asked if she felt a little lost given the attention being shelved out to the likes of Ko, Henderson and Jutanugarn.

Lang, 30, brings an interesting resume. “She’s super steady. There’s no way she (could) be as calm as she looks on the outside”.

Then she broke out into laughter before explaining that her preferred routine is to “love my sleep” after eating “whatever Mama Ko is cooking up” in the kitchen in her rental for the week. “She does a better job controlling them. I just try and take deep breaths”. “I saved some good up-and-downs”.

“I mean, rough is so thick out there, so you don’t want to hit in there”. I think that will be a good spot going into (Sunday).

“But I’m happy with the way I’ve kind of progressed playing these U.S. Open championships”.

The final stage of the U.S. Women’s Open could produce some drama.

Her game on Saturday was solid and was evidence of the progress she’s made thanks to lots of hard work this a year ago as she prepares to play for Canada in Rio. “But either way I’ll take them both”, she added. Park is a thin drink of water who is the ideal spokeswoman for the Korean line of clothing she endorses and wears on her shirts: “Bean Pole Golf”.