Australians looking to extend Torrey Pines record

The entry statement to the public golf course that is Torrey Pines

In recent years Torrey Pines Golf Course on the coastline outside of San Diego has proven a happy hunting ground for Australians.

Marc Leishman and Jason Day (twice) have been winners there and Leishman (twice), Day, Adam Scott and Michael Sim have all finished runner-up at various stages at the Farmers Insurance Open over the past ten or so years.

This week seven Australians get their opportunity to extend that record, although Day will not be one of them having missed out on the various criteria needed to secure a start at the US Open and not competed in Final Qualifying.

Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Matt Jones, Brad Kennedy and Wade Ormsby were all exempt prior to the automatic qualification deadline of June 13th and Steve Allan played his way into the field via Final Qualifying last week.

Amongst that group only Kennedy is debuting at a US Open.

Smith is playing his 6th having a best of 4th on debut in 2015, a finish which essentially secured his place on the PGA Tour the following year.

For Leishman it will be his 10th appearance, having a best of 18th behind Dustin Johnson in 2016.

This week will be Adam Scott’s 20th consecutive US Open start. His best came in 2015 when he tied for 4th along with Cameron Smith at Chambers Bay.

Jones is playing for the 5th time but has missed the cut in four and was forced to withdrew when on debut in 2009.

Ormsby made his one and only appearance in the event when missing the cut in 2017 but his performances on last year’s Asian Tour have secured him another shot.

Steve Allan will play his first US Open since Pebble Beach in 2010 but it will be his sixth overall, qualifying on most occasions through the grueling local and sectional qualifying process.

The golf course will be a very different set-up to that provided for the regular tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open, Tiger Wood’s winning score of 1 under par there in 2008 highlighting just what a beast the South Course layout can become.

Australians’ world rankings

Adam Scott in practice this week – photo USGA

 

 

 

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Scott Hend finds form in Sweden

Scott Hend file photo Getty Images European Tour

Queensland’s Scott Hend has recorded his best European Tour finish in more than two years with a share of 4th place at the inaugural Scandinavian Mixed event Hosted by Henrik and Annika in Gothenburg in Sweden.

A final round of 70 at the Vallda G&CC saw the 47-year-old US based golfer pocket a cheque for €40,000 (A$63,000) and jump 47 places to 79th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Hend, whose only other top ten in 2021 was when 8th in Tenerife in May, has struggled with form over recent weeks especially, having missed his last three cuts although in one of those events he was hampered when his clubs went missing when returning from the US.

Hend failed to record one top ten in 19 European Tour starts in 2020  and this week’s result is his best finish since winning the Maybank Championship in Malaysia in March of 2019.

Perth’s Jason Scrivener also recorded a good week when he finished in a share of 7th despite a final round of 73 after sharing the lead into the final round.

Scrivener moves up one position to 6th in the Race to Dubai rankings in what has been a superb season to date.

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox was 14th.

The tournament, which adopted the mixed gender format introduced in an event in Australia earlier this year, allowed both men and women to compete on the same golf course and for the same prizemoney pool, although the women played from different tees than the men.

The winner of the event was Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell whose final round of 64 saw him win by one over Spain’s Adrian Otaegui.

It was Caldwell’s first European Tour title after first qualifying to play the tour in 2008. It has been a long road since, playing just 47 European Tour events in that period and playing lesser tours to keep the dream alive.

“It’s been a dream of mine for an awful long time,” he said. “A lot of hard work goes into it. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but hopefully more to come.

“In 2009 I played my first year, lost my card, played mini tours and Challenge Tour over the years, worked as well in a local golf store. It’s been a long road but finally I’m here.

“The golf club at home will probably be going bonkers so just put a tab on and crack on boys and enjoy.

“My parents have been with me the whole way so I look forward to talking to them tonight.”

The leading woman was Alice Hewson who finished in 3rd position and won €54,000 in the process.

Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou tied for 25th.

 

 

 

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Stephen Allan earns US Open start – Day’s major run over

Stephen Allan plays US Open for the 6th time – file photo Bruce Young

With Sectional Qualifying for next week’s US Open at Torrey Pines near San Diego now completed, seven Australians are now confirmed for the third major championship of 2021.

Former Australian Open Champion, Stephen Allan, was the only Australian to gain access to the event via Sectional Qualifying after he produced a second round of 68 at his venue, the Meadow Springs Country Club in Washington, this morning to secure one of the two spots available from that course.

Allan, currently ranked outside the top 1000 in the world, joins Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Wade Ormsby and Brad Kennedy as Australians qualified to play the event beginning on June 17th.

For Allan it will be his 6th appearance at the US Open, many of those starts earned via the demanding qualifying process. His first appearance came in 1999 as a 25-year-old.

Jason Day, now outside the required automatic qualification of a top 60 standing in the world ranking, withdrew from qualifying after a late withdrawal from last week’s Memorial due to an ongoing back issue.

Day has played every US Open since 2011 where he finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy on debut in the event. In his ten previous and consecutive appearances he has been twice runner-up and once 4th although in more recent times he has a best of 21st in his last four starts.

The US Open run is over for Jason Day seen here being interviewed after his debut runner-up in 2011.

 

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Yuka Saso wins playoff for US Women’s Open

Yuka Saso- photo USGA John Mummert

A 12 foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff saw Filipino, Yuka Saso, fully overcome a horror start to her final round of the US Women’s Open and eventually take the female game’s most significant event and become the first Filipino to do so.

Saso had begun the final round one shot behind Lexi Thompson but consecutive double bogeys at the 2nd and 3rd holes threatened to end any hopes of a dream win for the 19-year-old.

A pep talk from her caddie after the 3rd hole reminded Saso there were still plenty of holes to go and reminded her of the importance of refocusing on the task at hand. From the 4th hole on she would record three birdies and a bogey, two very important birdies at the par five 16th and 17th holes, allowing her to draw level with Thompson before a par at the last saw her enter a playoff against Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.

Not only is it Saso’s first major title but it is her first LPGA Tour victory as she had been previously ineligible for that tour. She now has the right to play the LPGA Tour but she was not quick to confirm such would be the case.

“I just heard that,” said Saso when told of the possible graduation to the LPGA Tour. “I’m going to talk to my dad, my family about it, and we are going to decide after.”

Saso was boosted by a large Filipino contingent, many of whom live in the Daly City area outside of San Francisco and gave thanks for that support and for that of those back in the Philippines.

“I’m just thankful that there’s so many people in the Philippines cheering for me. I don’t know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone.

“There’s so many people holding up Philippines flags, and it’s really big. It made me really happy.”

Both Saso and Hataoka parred the opening two holes of a two-hole aggregate playoff before the third hole would become sudden death. It was there that Saso hit a superb approach from the left rough to 12 feet. Hataoka had found the fairway from the tee but her approach was well short and after her 35 foot putt missed the stage was left to Saso to end the battle.

Hataoka, playing in the second to last group, began the final round six shots behind Thompson but produced a brilliant final round of 68 to force her way into contention and then watch as Thompson self-destructed over her closing holes.

Nasa Hataoka misses a birdie chance at the 72nd hole – photo USGA

Thompson squandered a five shot lead she had established through five holes of the final round, playing her final eight holes in five over par including consecutive bogeys to finish and she would fall, agonisingly, one shot short.

Understandably, Thompson was gutted with her demise over the last few holes to lose the chance of a first US Women’s Open.

“Yeah, of course it’s tough,” said Thompson. “I really didn’t feel like I hit any bad golf shots. That’s what this golf course can do to you, and that’s what I’ve said all week.

“But overall, I’d be the first one to tell you that I hit some bad golf shots and I deserved it, but it’s golf.

“Of course it’s hard to smile, but, I mean, it was an amazing week. Yeah, I played not so good today with a few of the bogeys coming in on the back nine, but the fans were unbelievable, hearing the chants and just gives me a reason to play.

“It was just an unbelievable feeling to be out here and play this golf course. I’ve never been out here, so it was a blessing, and I’ll take today and I’ll learn from it and have a lot more weeks ahead, a lot more years. I have a tournament next week, so we’ll take it from here.”

Keeping a brave face till the end – Thompson acknowledges the crowd at the 18th – image USGA

Lydia Ko finished as the best of the three Australasians to make the cut, the New Zealander finishing at 10 over and in 35th place and one ahead of Minjee Lee with Hannah Green another six shots back in 65th place.

Ko was full of praise for the golf course. “I think this was a fantastic golf course for a U.S. Open. I think it tests every part of your game. The greens are I think on the smaller side, and that’s why it’s even more crucial to be on the fairways.

“Sometimes you hit good shots and they still end up in the rough, but I think for the majority if you hit a good shot you were rewarded, and I think that really resembles what a U.S. Open should be like and what a major championship should be like.”

Lydia Ko arriving at the course on Sunday – USGA Darren Carroll

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Can Lexi Thompson emulate the deeds of Phil Mickelson?

Lexi Thompson in full flight today – photo USGA Darren Carroll

Two weeks ago, America’s favourite golfing son, Phil Mickelson, won the PGA Championship and rewarded his many golfing fans in doing so.

Tomorrow America’s favourite golfing daughter, Lexi Thompson, gets her chance to emulate Mickelson’s deeds and convert the one shot 54 hole lead over Yuka Saso she has established at the US Women’s Open into a memorable victory.

There are many parallels between Mickelson and Thompson, more especially their exciting play and their capacity to engage with the many golfing fans they have. Today Thompson was even signing autographs during her round which would not have gone unnoticed by the golfing public.

Thompson’s bogey free third round of 66 is the best of the week thus far and allowed her to move ahead of the third-round leader, Yuka Saso, who bogeyed her final hole to provide Thompson clean air atop the leaderboard.

Still only 26 years of age, Thompson is playing her 15th US Women’s Open with a best of runner-up in 2019. She has, though, won a major previously when winning the 2014 ANA Inspiration and suffered a huge setback when penalised four shots during the 2017 ANA before finishing runner-up.

“It’s amazing. It’s just an honor to be out here,” said Thompson when asked to describe her day.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about it and how challenging it is, so I was really looking forward to just coming into the week and seeing what all the hype was about.

“It’s just an amazing layout, atmosphere, everything. It’s definitely challenging. You have to keep it in those fairways. The rough is up very thick. But it’s a challenging golf course, and that’s how all majors should be.

“I’ve just been working extremely hard on every aspect of my game. I’ve worked with Martin Hall quite a bit in the last few weeks. Got to see him a few times.

“But my last week at home I was nonstop practicing working on my game knowing that this is the first event out of about six in a row for me. A big stretch for me, and this one being the first one. I’ve been just working extremely hard, but that’s what it takes to be up top, so I just have to keep on improving.”

Thompson is clearly carrying a much better approach to her game on the golf course and she described just how that had come about.

“It takes a lot because I’ve always been one to be very hard on myself. That’s how I grew up. That’s how I always wanted to be better, and I never accepted mediocre. I think to be the best you don’t want to accept mediocre, so you always have to strive to do better and keep on improving.

“I don’t know, it just came to me. I wasn’t improving with my mindset on the golf course so I knew I had to change, and this week I’ve just had a lot of fun. I’ve made bogeys and I just let it go because it’s going to happen, and just trying to have fun with my caddie out there. It was his birthday today, so I didn’t yell at him.”

Saso bogeyed her final hole but she had again impressed with a round of 71 and might still be the toughest for Thompson to beat tomorrow.

Saso recorded four birdies and four bogeys and is just one behind Thompson but three ahead of the third placed Megha Ganne and Jeongeun Lee 6.

“I think I started good,” said the 19 year old Japanese based Filipino. “I started with a birdie followed with a bogey. But I think I holed some good putts, just a little disappointing that I misread two putts, but I think it’s a great day.”

Saso has only been a professional for just over 18 months but she has been very successful in Japan and has played in LPGA events on occasions.

“I think I’ve learned so much last year and this year. I played in so many good tournaments and I’ve been having a great chance playing with the great players, seeing them play, being so patient, trusting on what they do, I think I’ve learned from that, so I think I’m just going to stay patient and trust the process.”

Seven players are under par and all have a genuine chance of taking the title but some will have to play very well and rely on Thompson or Saso faltering.

Lydia Ko heads the three Australasians to make the cut but for all three today’s third round was a disappointing day.

Ko was round in 76 to be at 9 over and tied for 49th, Minjee Lee a 77 to be at 10 over and Hannah Hgree a 78 to be at 13 over. recorded rounds of 76.

SCORES

Lydia Ko – leads the Australasians through 54 holes – photo USGA

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Lucas Herbert impresses at Memorial as leader Rahm forced to withdraw

Lucas Herbert – file photo – image PGA of Australia

Despite a disappointing double bogey at his 17th hole in today’s third round of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, Victorian golfer, Lucas Herbert finds himself in a share of 7th position as the event heads into tomorrow’s final round.

Herbert is playing the event courtesy of his performance on money lists internationally and with an outward nine of 33 today he was well inside the top ten and playing beautifully.

He missed the green at the 10th and took bogey but a stunning tee shot at the 16th to six feet led to a birdie before a mini disaster at the 17th where he found the water with his approach and dropped two shots.

For Herbert however, a winner in Dubai on the European Tour in 2020 and a with five other top five finishes on that tour along with runner-up finishes at both the NSW and New Zealand Opens, he continues to build on his professional career.

Although some seven shots behind current joint leaders, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay, Herbert is well placed to record his best ever PGA Tour finish and the manner in which he has handled the Memorial layout and competed against such a strong field augurs well for his ongoing career.

The shock of the event came at the completion of previous winner Jon Rahm’s third round during which he recorded a round of 64 to lead the event by six shots.

Soon after his round he was informed he had tested positive to Covid and has been forced to withdraw from the event.

Rahm had been tested after round two and before round three as a result of him coning into contact with a positive person earlier and the diagnosis was determined during his third round of play.

Adam Scott is two behind Herbert and tied for 16th while Marc Leishman is further back and the only other Australian to make the cut.

 

 

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Another teenager takes US Women’s Open lead

Yuka Saso- photo USGA

Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are, perhaps predictably, the only three  Australasians to make the weekend at the US Women’s Open at Olympic Club near San Francisco, the Ko and Lee finishing their opening 36 holes at 4 over par and one shot inside the cutline while Green was right on the required number.

Ko struggled to a round of 75 and after being just one off the lead during her opening round on Thursday it has been a disappointing last 23 holes for the New Zealander having dropped seven shots in that time but a good weekend is not beyond her.

Brisbane raised amateur Emily Mahar and Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith finished at 10 over par, New Zealand amateur Amelia Garvey at 11 over, in her first appearance as a professional, and Sarah Kemp at 15 over.

Lee was round in 73 today and both she and Ko are in 36th place and ten shots from the lead set by Filipino Yuka Saso who is the only player to record consecutive rounds in the 60’s thus far and finds herself one shot ahead of 2019 US Women’s Open champion, Jeongeun Lee.

Lee echoed the feeling of most when she described the conditions. “It was cold today. Oh, my goodness. But the wind didn’t pick up like the forecast said it was, so that was nice.

“The greens were definitely softer, holding a little bit. Overall, again, it played tough, but if you were in the fairway it was scorable. Kind of bummed I didn’t capitalize on a few more opportunities.”

Still only 19 years  of age, leader Saso is playing her third US Open and finished a very respectable 13th in 2020 after being very much in the hunt through 36 holes.

Ten birdies and just four bogeys represent a splendid opening 36 holes for the leader who plays most of her golf on the Japan Golf Tour where she won two events in 2020.

Born in the Philippines but raised since the age of 4 in Japan, Saso had originally intended to play collegiate golf in the US but she has been professional now for nearly two years and making a considerable success of it.

Two years ago, she advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior, then passed up a scholarship offer from the University of Georgia to turn professional. Since then, Saso, a semifinalist in the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur, has captured two events on the LPGA Tour of Japan and has risen to 40th in the Rolex World Rankings.

She described the benefit of being in contention in the early stages of last year’s US Open and how that has impacted on her approach this week.

“Last year’s U.S. Open? Last year it was very cold and I wasn’t really expecting to play that good. It was really a good experience. For all the tournaments that I’m joining before here, at Olympic, I really had a good experience and trying to be patient. I think that helps.”

Joint first round leader, 17 year old Megha Ganne, did well to record a round of even par today, the 17 year old no doubt excited about what lies ahead over the weekend as she anticipates the spotlight being on her even more.

Ganne is tied for third place with Megan Khang with another shot back to China’s Shanshan Feng.

“Yeah, I think what I learned at the ANWA and a couple other events is obviously when you have your “A” game it’s really easy to make putts and hit good shots,” said Ganne. “But it’s when you don’t have that and you’re still able to salvage and not compound mistakes, that’s what separates the pros from the amateurs I think a lot of the time.

“That’s kind of what I’ve been trying to do. A little bit on the front nine I saw that today. I wasn’t really in the spots I wanted to be, so I just remember that I know how to make up-and-downs, so kept that in mind.”

Eleven players are under par at the completion of 36 holes with another four at even par, and given the nature of this golf course all can be considered chances to claim the title over the weekend.

SCORES

Minjee Lee – the best of the Australians at present – photo USGA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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17 year old amateur shares US Women’s Open lead

Megha Ganne – shares the lead with Mel Reid- photo USGA

17-year-old American amateur, Megha Ganne, and 33-year-old Englishwoman, Mel Reid, lead after day one of the US Women’s Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco, the pair tied at 4 under and one ahead of Brooke Henderson, Megan Khang and Angel Yin.

Ganne, a high school student in New Jersey, held the outright lead until a bogey at her final hole but it was a very impressive effort for the youngster playing in her second US Women’s Open, six birdies and two bogeys rounding out a very special effort on the demanding Olympic layout.

Ganne is already in line for a place on the nearby Stanford University golf team in 2022, so this region will become more familiar to her over the next few years but she showed she has the maturity and game to suggest an exciting future.

Ganne appeared to have benefited from playing the event previously and said as much after her round.

“I think the first time is nerve-racking for anybody and meeting your idols and being on the stage for the first time.

“But the second time around, even the practice rounds, I wasn’t as nervous. I felt like I could come here and just play my game instead of soaking that all in. So I got that out of the way the first time around. Definitely a little bit easier this time.

“I think just my ability to play smart and not take any unnecessary risks, and I didn’t panic when I got into the rough a couple of times out there because there are definitely holes I wasn’t keeping in the fairway, and it’s easy to panic out there, and I didn’t do that.”

Reid was a little surprised with her impressive start, not because she doubted her capacity to do so but the layout and the USGA set-up did not appear to offer such opportunity before she headed out.

“I didn’t think that score was out there honestly,” said Reid. “I had a pretty good game plan. It’s probably the best I’ve had for a tournament. We had a game plan and stuck to it.

“If you’re in trouble, just get it out, make bogey. I think the key here is to not take many risks the first two, three days, and I didn’t do that.

“The rough is definitely up. I think they cut it a little bit from Monday. Monday I could barely get a 9-iron 60 yards. We don’t have the same strength as men. I love the rough personally.

“This is exactly how a U.S. Open should be. This is an unbelievable golf course. As soon as I rocked up here I thought, this is the kind of golf courses we want to play.”

Reid also gave credit to four-time major champion and close friend Brooks Koepka who she talked to on the eve of the event.

“I texted Brooks on Tuesday. We had a long conversation and then we Face-Timed for an hour on Tuesday night. He gave me a few things that he follows by in a major, so obviously appreciate his help.

“What he told me was, I thought, invaluable honestly, and it made me have a little bit different approach. That’s why I feel like I prepared the best and yeah, I’m just trying to be a bit more like Brooks, honestly.”

Mel Reid today – photo USGA Darren Carroll.

Lydia Ko heads the seven player down under contingent, the New Zealander moving within one of the lead at one stage before dropping four shots in four holes on the back nine. She would eventually finish at even par 71 and is well placed with a morning round to follow on day two.

Minjee Lee and Hannah Green lead the Australians after completing their morning rounds at 2 over 73 and while not the scores they were hoping for they are far from out of the contest as the event heads into day two.

Brisbane raised but now US based amateur Emily Mahar finished at 6 over while Sarah Jane Smith was at 7 over along with Sarah Kemp.

New Zealand’s recently turned professional Amelia Garvey performed well with a round of 74 to be 3 over.

Lydia Ko heads the ‘down under’ players with a round of 71 – photo Robert Beck USGA

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Jason Day’s last minute battle for US Open start

Jason Day with his runner-up US Open medal on debut in 2011 – photo Bruce Young

Not since his brilliant runner-up debut finish at the US Open in 2011 has Jason Day had to worry about the right to play the historic event.

2021, however, has Day looking at the possibility of not being in the field for Torrey Pines in two weeks’ time, his world ranking (69th) now having him outside the qualifying standard.

If he is unable to improve to inside the top 60 at the completion of this week’s Memorial, then only Sectional Qualifying in Ohio next week can save him.

Day’s world ranking is the lowest it has been since mid-2010 following a recent run which has seen him record just one top ten in 11 starts in 2021 and not one top 30 finishes in his last seven starts.

This week’s Memorial offers some hope although, other than a 4th place finish in the event in 2020, Day has a disappointing record at Muirfield Village.

In nine previous starts, Day has just that one top ten and on a golf course he knows so well, being a member at the layout near his home, it can only be described as a surprising history.

If Day is unable to produce the win or top-two finish he likely needs this week to be inside the top 60 by next Monday, he will be forced to play Sectional Qualifying for the US Open in Ohio next Monday.

All is not lost, therefore, but given his current form it will be a tough battle for him to again play the event in which he has been twice runner-up and five times inside the top ten in ten starts.

Adding further to the frustration for Day is that this year’s US Open is being played at a venue that has been so kind to him over his years in golf. Day won a World Junior title at Torrey Pines and in his professional career to date he has been twice a winner and once runner-up at the clifftop course near San Diego.

Currently six Australians have earned the right to play the event via their various standing in world golf or through their performances in world golf over the last twelve months or so.

Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Brad Kennedy, Wade Ormsby and Matt Jones are those Australians in the field at this stage but several more will be hoping for either something very special this week or to negotiate their way through the demands of Sectional Qualifying.

Included amongst several other Australians who have advanced to Sectional Qualifying are Cameron Davis, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby, Min Woo Lee and amateur, Karl Vilips.

Update – the pending arrival of Day’s 4th child adds another complication in his preparation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Minjee Lee looking to improve US Women’s Open record

Minjee Lee in practice this week – photo USGA Robert Beck

Perth’s Minjee Lee will this week play her 8th US Women’s Open but, without a top ten yet to her name, her record in this event and in major championship golf generally is below the level she has regularly achieved in her LPGA Tour career to date.

Lee has just five top tens in 34 appearances in major championship golf and having been inside the top ten in the Rolex World Ranking for much of her recent time on the LPGA Tour she is perhaps underachieving at this highest level.

Admittedly Lee, has missed only four cuts in those 34 events and made six of her seven cuts to date at the US Open but she has a best of just 11th in the female game’s most significant event which came in the 2017 event when finishing seven shots behind the winner that year, Sung Hyun Park.

The San Francisco area, where this week’s event is being played, has, though, been good to Lee in the past having won the US Junior Championship at the adjacent Lake Merced in 2012 and finished runner-up to Lydia Ko at the same venue in the LPGA Mediheal event in 2018 and she is using those memories as a motivation this week.

“The look of the golf course is a lot like Lake Merced,” said Lee on Tuesday. “I won the U.S. Girls there, and I just really love San Francisco in general, so it always excites me to come back and visit.”

Lee warmed up for this week with a quarter final appearance at last week’s Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play event in Las Vegas and is feeling good as to how her game is trending.

“I feel like I have a good chance. It’s only Tuesday. I feel like my game is trending in the right direction. I feel like it’s U.S. Open week, it’s going to be a tiring week. Just, it being a major, I think just you give a little bit more pressure to yourself, I think, to perform.

“I’m really excited. It’s going to be such a challenging week, and I think that is what makes it the most exciting.”

 

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