Lee watches her tee shot at the 3rd hole today – photo Darren Carroll USGA
A stretch of five birdies in seven holes in the middle of her third round at the US Women’s Open has played a key role in establishing a three shot 54 hole lead for Perth’s Minjee Lee at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in North Carolina.
Lee’s 54 hole total is the lowest in the history of the US Women’s Open.
Lee began the round in a share of the lead with American Mina Harigae but a three putt bogey at the 5th by the West Australian and a birdie from 5 feet by Harigae had Lee two behind.
Then came the run of birdies for Lee which began at the 6th from 8 feet and was followed by more at the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th and when Hariage bogeyed the 11th and 12th Lee was four ahead.
Harigae closed the gap with a brilliant tee shot at the 16th to two feet and the gap of three at that point was maintained until the completion of the round.
So Lee is three ahead of Harigae who has yet to win even an LPGA Tour event let alone a major and the gap to the third placed Bronte Law is another three shots so if Lee is able to play a round close to par or better tomorrow it may well be a bridge too far for her chasers.
“I had a pretty solid day,” said Lee perhaps stating the obvious. “Started a little bit slow. Made one bogey on the front and then went on a string of birdies. That was nice heading into the back nine.
“I’m just going to stick to what I know (tomorrow). I’ve been on — been to plenty of U.S. Opens and been in pressure situations like this before. Just take away my experience from the other events and the other Opens and try and get it done tomorrow.”
Lee’s precise and clinical golf especially through the middle of her round was particularly impressive
“I just had good numbers, and having shorter irons in, I think it was easier to calculate the bounce.
“I hit some really good shots in and hit some really good putts, too.”
Lee was asked about what appeared to be a very calm demeanor on the golf course today to which she responded;
“Pretty much when I was on the run of birdies I wasn’t too nervous. But I think coming down the stretch a little bit more, just with more people maybe, just a little bit more pressure.
“Yeah, I’m pretty calm. My personality is pretty calm anyway. I don’t think I get too high or too low. I think that’s a strength of mine.”
Harigae is Lee’s closest rival through 54 holes and she has done remarkably well for one so inexperienced in this situation.
“I was a little nervous in the beginning, but I was able to hit some good shots,” said Harigae. “My middle was pretty good. Then got a little — hit a little squirrelly shots, but then I made a good birdie on 16.
“I think overall I’m just happy with the way I was able to hang in there.”
When asked what she has learned about herself to date this week Harigae responded; “That I’m able to really embrace the moment. I can control my emotions a lot better, especially when there’s high tension, when things don’t go my way. But yeah, I’m just really happy with the way I’m handling it.”
Lydia Ko – not without her chance tomorrow – photo Darren Carroll USGA
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko made a good move on Saturday, her round of 66 moving her into a share of 4th place and now seven shots from the lead.
I hit a lot of greens,” said Ko. “Some of the greens I hit, it was quite a ways far from the pin, but still, you take any green in regulations. I think I stayed pretty patient out there, and I think that’s what I did pretty well these last few days.
“You know that even though it’s the same as any other 72-hole event, this week just feels a little longer, a little tougher. I just try to stay patient, try to have a good time out there, and to be able to play some good golf with that is definitely a bonus.”
As to her chances tomorrow, asked when she finished her round some time earlier than that of the last group, Ko would say.
“You just never know, right? There has been some lower scores at this course. I don’t know, like I said, how it’s going to be set up, what the weather is forecasted to be tomorrow. It’s the U.S. Women’s Open; there’s always that little bit of adrenaline and little bit of nerves that maybe necessarily don’t come at any other event.
“I’m just going to focus on my game, just enjoy it. It’s such a great golf course, and it’s a fun course where I think you can be aggressive, but at the same time when you are — there are some penalizing bits, as well. You just have to play really smart.
“I think this has been one of the most fun venues of the U.S. Women’s Open that I’ve played, so hopefully I’d better finish off my week well and see where that puts me at the end of tomorrow.”
Hannah Green is at even par and in 20th place and Grace Kim 60th.
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Minjee Lee’s mid-round brilliance earns three shot US Open lead
Lee watches her tee shot at the 3rd hole today – photo Darren Carroll USGA
A stretch of five birdies in seven holes in the middle of her third round at the US Women’s Open has played a key role in establishing a three shot 54 hole lead for Perth’s Minjee Lee at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in North Carolina.
Lee’s 54 hole total is the lowest in the history of the US Women’s Open.
Lee began the round in a share of the lead with American Mina Harigae but a three putt bogey at the 5th by the West Australian and a birdie from 5 feet by Harigae had Lee two behind.
Then came the run of birdies for Lee which began at the 6th from 8 feet and was followed by more at the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th and when Hariage bogeyed the 11th and 12th Lee was four ahead.
Harigae closed the gap with a brilliant tee shot at the 16th to two feet and the gap of three at that point was maintained until the completion of the round.
So Lee is three ahead of Harigae who has yet to win even an LPGA Tour event let alone a major and the gap to the third placed Bronte Law is another three shots so if Lee is able to play a round close to par or better tomorrow it may well be a bridge too far for her chasers.
“I had a pretty solid day,” said Lee perhaps stating the obvious. “Started a little bit slow. Made one bogey on the front and then went on a string of birdies. That was nice heading into the back nine.
“I’m just going to stick to what I know (tomorrow). I’ve been on — been to plenty of U.S. Opens and been in pressure situations like this before. Just take away my experience from the other events and the other Opens and try and get it done tomorrow.”
Lee’s precise and clinical golf especially through the middle of her round was particularly impressive
“I just had good numbers, and having shorter irons in, I think it was easier to calculate the bounce.
“I hit some really good shots in and hit some really good putts, too.”
Lee was asked about what appeared to be a very calm demeanor on the golf course today to which she responded;
“Pretty much when I was on the run of birdies I wasn’t too nervous. But I think coming down the stretch a little bit more, just with more people maybe, just a little bit more pressure.
“Yeah, I’m pretty calm. My personality is pretty calm anyway. I don’t think I get too high or too low. I think that’s a strength of mine.”
Harigae is Lee’s closest rival through 54 holes and she has done remarkably well for one so inexperienced in this situation.
“I was a little nervous in the beginning, but I was able to hit some good shots,” said Harigae. “My middle was pretty good. Then got a little — hit a little squirrelly shots, but then I made a good birdie on 16.
“I think overall I’m just happy with the way I was able to hang in there.”
When asked what she has learned about herself to date this week Harigae responded; “That I’m able to really embrace the moment. I can control my emotions a lot better, especially when there’s high tension, when things don’t go my way. But yeah, I’m just really happy with the way I’m handling it.”
Lydia Ko – not without her chance tomorrow – photo Darren Carroll USGA
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko made a good move on Saturday, her round of 66 moving her into a share of 4th place and now seven shots from the lead.
I hit a lot of greens,” said Ko. “Some of the greens I hit, it was quite a ways far from the pin, but still, you take any green in regulations. I think I stayed pretty patient out there, and I think that’s what I did pretty well these last few days.
“You know that even though it’s the same as any other 72-hole event, this week just feels a little longer, a little tougher. I just try to stay patient, try to have a good time out there, and to be able to play some good golf with that is definitely a bonus.”
As to her chances tomorrow, asked when she finished her round some time earlier than that of the last group, Ko would say.
“You just never know, right? There has been some lower scores at this course. I don’t know, like I said, how it’s going to be set up, what the weather is forecasted to be tomorrow. It’s the U.S. Women’s Open; there’s always that little bit of adrenaline and little bit of nerves that maybe necessarily don’t come at any other event.
“I’m just going to focus on my game, just enjoy it. It’s such a great golf course, and it’s a fun course where I think you can be aggressive, but at the same time when you are — there are some penalizing bits, as well. You just have to play really smart.
“I think this has been one of the most fun venues of the U.S. Women’s Open that I’ve played, so hopefully I’d better finish off my week well and see where that puts me at the end of tomorrow.”
Hannah Green is at even par and in 20th place and Grace Kim 60th.
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Wollongong’s Travis Smyth faces important career day
Travis Smyth in action today – photo Paul Lakatos
Wollongong’s Travis Smyth faces the most crucial day in his professional career on Sunday when he takes a narrow lead into the final round of the International Series event at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort near Newcastle in England.
Smyth is confident he can register a maiden Asian Tour success after taking the third-round lead in the International Series England after signing for a superb five-under-par 66 today.
He has certainly chosen a great event to make a break through if he is able to do so as the tournament carries of purse of US$2 million, one of the highest purses ever on a standalone Asian Tour event where the winner will earn US$360,000.
Also important is that the leading two players this week and not otherwise exempt will earn a place in the elite field for next week’s US$25 million Liv International , as will the leading three players not otherwise exempt from the International Series Order of Merit, from the International Series Thailand in March through to this week.
The Australian, 27, topped the leaderboard on eight under par at Slaley Hall Hotel, in an event that marks the Asian Tour’s debut in the UK.
He leads by a shot from Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who matched the course record with a 65, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in with a 69, and Korean Joohyung Kim, who carded a 70.
South African Justin Harding, joint overnight leader with Kim, carded a 71 and is two off the lead.
Smyth is set to feature in the final group for the first time on the Asian Tour but shrugged off the pressure and said: “I definitely think I can win. I don’t know how I’m going to do it – but it’s going to be exciting. This is the best chance that I’ve had on the Asian Tour to win, so I cannot wait to get out there.
“Today, I knew I was up there early on because I started pretty well. I’m hoping tomorrow I feel like I did today.”
The man from 100 kilometres south of Sydney in New South Wales, said: “I was thinking ‘make four’. It was pretty obvious to go left of the tree, hit it to the front of the green, two-putt – and I holed it!”
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Minjee Lee joins Mina Harigae in the halfway lead at Pine Needles
Minjee Lee watches her shot from the rough at the 5th today – photo Jeff Haynes USGA
Minjee Lee has a share of the lead at the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club In Southern Pines, the West Australian catching the first round leader Mina Harigae to jointly hold a two shot lead over former Australian Women’s Amateur champion, Hyejin Choi, and Anna Nordqvist at the halfway mark of richest and most significant event in women’s golf.
Lee was out in the afternoon on day two and reached the turn in 31 and with Harigae playing in the morning field and posting a 9 under for her opening 36 holes several hours earlier, Lee added two further birdies late in her round to go with a solitary bogey and the pair stand atop a field of the game’s elite.
Lee has played in eight previous US Women’s Opens and has yet to record a top ten but she has shown with her fine play this year, where she leads to points standing on the LPGA Tour, that something much better was likely this week.
“I started pretty solid with two birdies to start, so that was nice,” said Lee who has never been one for a lot of depth in her media appearances. “I had a string of pars until maybe 8 and 9, I think, which were really good — both of them were really nice birdies.
“Then I bogeyed one hole on the back nine, made a really good up-and-down on the 17th, and finished my round 5-under today, so pretty solid overall.
“I’m not sure how the conditions are going to change and what time I’m playing, but I’ve been taking one shot at a time,” added Lee when asked her thoughts on the weekend.
“The golf course can really catch up to you quickly, so just trying to take whatever I have in front of me as I go and just try to take — whenever I have a birdie opportunity, I try to take advantage of that.
“Yeah, that’s pretty much what I’m going to focus on and just do whatever I can that is in my control.”
Harigae has yet to win on the LPGA Tour but she did finish 3rd at last year’s Tour Championship and runner-up in one other event so she has game but not the experience in contention of Lee although she did lead the Women’s British Open at the halfway mark last year.
After her round today, Harigae talked about the aspects that have seen her improvement over the past six months.
“I think it’s the people I surrounded myself with. I went back to my old swing coach that knows me best. I met my fiance, Travis. He has a great killer athlete mentality. He kind of brought me back to how I was in my amateur golf days. More of that kind of mentality.
“Just surrounding myself with people that are really good for me.
“I think I’m just a completely different person and golfer in general. I’m hitting a lot more greens now. I’ve always generally been a pretty good driver of the golf ball, but it’s my irons that have really taken care of where I’m going with my game. Putting too. I’ve been making a lot more putts. I’m way more confident with it.
“I think just as a person I’m much more mature. It took me a little bit, but I feel like I’m a lot more mature than I was in my 20s.”
Hannah Green and Lydia Ko are the next best of the seven strong Australasian challenge, the pair at 1 under and in a share of 21st and Grace Kim, playing in her very first US Women’s Open and a recent winner on the Epson Tour, has done well to make the cut on the number.
Sarah Kemp missed the weekend by one, Gabi Ruffels by four and New Zealand’s Julianne Alvarez several shots further back.
Mina Harigae shares the halfway lead with Minjee Lee – photo Jeff Haynes USGA
Cameron Smith’s great year continues at Memorial Tournament
Cameron Smith – file photo – a win or runner-up finish this week would move him to # 2 in the world – PGA of America
Cameron Smith has the halfway lead at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin in Ohio, the current world # 3 perhaps on track, if he should win or finish runner-up this week, to move ahead of Jon Rahm and into second position in the world ranking.
It has been a phenomenal season to date for Smith with two wins and two other top five finishes in just eight starts to date and having begun the year in 21st place in the ranking his progress has been stunning.
Today Smith added a second round of 69 to his opening 67 at Muirfield Village and at 8 under par he leads by one over Denny McCarthy and K.H. Lee.
Despite his lead, Smith was a little unhappy with his ball striking and indicated he will be working on that aspect later today.
“I’m just happy with the way I stuck in there,” said the Players Champion. “Really happy with where my short game’s at. I feel like I’m rolling the ball really good. Just need to sort out that longer stuff. Didn’t really hit many fairways on the back greens, but just need to hit a few balls and sort it out.
“I think my game’s in a good spot. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be. I’m playing some of the best golf of my life, and I feel I’m getting more consistent with the longer stuff. So just looking forward to everything coming up.
“I think mentally I’m in a really good spot. I think I’ve got a few things to tidy up still with my longer stuff. I feel as though I’m getting more and more consistent week in, week out.
“But just really happy. I think I can do a few things here and there to really tidy up that longer stuff and really stay on top of it.”
“I just try to hit the right shots every time, added Smith when asked what is making him so mentally strong at present. “Even if I’m uncomfortable, I know what the right shot is, and I’m committed to trying to hit that shot and that’s just a really good place to be in.”
Jason Day, playing the golf course at which he is a member, is at 1 over and in a share of 49th place while Cameron Davis, Adam Scott, Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert just made the cut at 2 over. at 2 over will also get to play the weekend.
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Anthony Quayle back on the horse at Japan Tour Championship
Quayle in action during today’s second round – photo Japan Golf Tour
Just five days after losing a playoff which would otherwise have given him his first Japan Tour title, Australian Anthony Quayle has jumped right back on the horse and is in a share of second place as the Japan Golf Tour Championship closes in on its halfway stage at the Shishido Hills Country Club in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Many players will be required to finish off round two early on Saturday morning but Quayle’s second round of 66 has him just two behind the sole leader, Aguri Iwasaki and irrespective of the how things finish up when round two is completed the 27-year-old is nicely placed heading into the final 36 holes.
With his putter heating up, Quayle believed he could have finished possibly with two more birdies if not for a three-hour suspension in play in the early afternoon due to bad weather.
“I feel like I was playing good enough to sort of sneak one or even two more birdies (just before the suspension),” said Quayle, who finished runner-up at the Mizuno Open last week.
“I was playing really nicely and just had some momentum. But I’ll take two pars on the 17 and 18 every day this week, so I’m happy with that, and I’m very happy to be where I am right now.”
Being firmly in contention for the second week running, Quayle stressed that it’s important for him to stay in the moment.
“My strategy hasn’t really changed this year, just trying to enjoy myself as much as I can and have a bit more fun,” he said.
“This is such a beautiful golf course, such a great piece of property, and I really enjoy being out here.”
Quayle’s fellow Queensland based Brad Kennedy who also had a good week last week when 4th at the Mizuno Open, is again in contention at 3 under par and in a share of 12th following his two completed rounds.
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Minjee Lee three back at US Women’s Open
Minjee Lee during her opening round today – photo Jeff Haynes USGA
Minjee Lee finds herself in a share of third place and three shots behind American Mina Harigae at the completion of the opening round of the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines in North Carolina.
Separating Harigae from Lee is the Swedish amateur Ingrid lindblad whose round of 65 was the best ever by an amateur at the US Women’s Open.
Lee, who is playing her 9th US Women’s Open but without a top ten to date in any of those starts, was out in 2 under 33 and added four more birdies on her closing nine, but bogeys at the 13th and 17th saw her finish with a round of 4 under 67.
“Yeah, I mean, I was pretty solid all day,” said Lee. “I made quite a few birdies out there. I also made a few bogeys, as well, but overall I think I putted really well. I had really good speed on the greens today.
“I was striking it pretty good; just had a few loose shots here and there. Hopefully I can clean it up for tomorrow.
“I feel pretty good. Today I actually putted really well, and usually I hit it better than my putting. But I’ve been working really hard on all aspects of my game, so I feel like I’m pretty confident just in my ability right now.”
Hannah Green is the next best of the seven strong Australasian contingent following her round of 1 under 70, late birdie from 12 feet at the 16th getting her under par for the day.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko began with a bogey and was unable to build any real momentum from there and finished with a round of 72 to be eight shots from the lead.
Rookie, Grace Kim, playing in her first US Women’s Open finished with a round of 2 over 73.
Victorian Gabi Ruffels made a solid enough start to the event but dropped four shots in three holes in a mid-back-nine stretch and finished with 74 as did New Zealand’s Julianne Alvarez and Sarah Kemp was round in 76.
The cut at this early stage appears as is if might be around 3 or 4 over, dependent on conditions remaining similar tomorrow, so there is work to be done by several of the ‘down under’ brigade
But in many respects the honours on day one went to the 22 year old Lindblad, a college student at Louisiana State University, who not only had the thrill of playing with one of the female game’s greatest ever players and a fellow countrywoman, Annika Sorenstam, in her group today, she also another one of Sweden’s finest female golfer, Sophie Gustafson, on the bag.
Gustafson was a five time winner on the LPGA Tour including the Women’s British Open before it became a major but this week is the first time Gustafson and Lindblad and she had met.
Sorenstam, who won last year’s US Women’s Senior Open and is nearly 30 years, Lindblad’s senior, recorded a round of 73 which, given she has essentially been retired from regular tournament play for nearly 14 years, was an impressive effort.
After her round Sorenstam, who won a massive 72 LPGA Tour events, summed up where golf fits in her life now.
“I mean, I’m a lot more content in my life. My playing days are over; I’m not here to create a new career or start something new and make a mark for myself. I’m more here to enjoy what I’ve done and enjoy being invited to come here and play and kind of share it with my loved ones. I think that’s more the attitude I have.
I have worked hard to try to get ready, and I’ve told myself this morning, there’s nothing else I can do. Another day, another week, another month is not going to change. I’m happy the way I’m playing.
And score-wise it could have been better, but also it’s not, and I think in ’96 might have been able to put another gear in or maybe two gears. But I’m at my highest gear or lowest gear, whatever you want to call it, there’s just nowhere to go other than what I have. I just have to accept it and kind of deal with it.
I don’t get as mad as I used to. I kind of bounce it off. By the end of the day the kids want to do something, I probably have to cook dinner, just all those things that I enjoy doing off the golf course. I can’t get upset anymore.
It’s just great to be here, enjoy. The fans have been super supportive, a lot of cheering coming up to the greens, so it warms my heart. Especially on 18 there was a little tear or two from my husband and myself because it warms to be here.”
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Ingrid Lindblad with her caddie and former 5 time LPGA Tour winner, Sophie Gustafson – photo USGA Darren Carroll
Can Minjee Lee’s impressive season get even better at US Women’s Open
Can Minjee Lee add a second major title to that she won at last year’s Evian Championship? – photo LET
Australian Minjee Lee already has a major title to her name having won in France last year, but this week’s US Women’s Open might just provide the chance for her to add the most significant title in women’s golf to her already impressive CV and further enhance an already superb 2022 season.
Lee is one of five Australians in the field, joining Hannah Green, Sarah Kemp, Gabi Ruffels and Grace Kim in the female game’s most significant event.
Lee is currently the third highest ranked women in the game and, sitting on top of the LPGA Tour standings in 2022, she arrives at Pines Needles Lodge and Golf Club with perhaps greater expectations than ever before.
Lee was one of the players invited to speak to the media today and she enthused about what she has seen thus far of Pine Needles.
“I played ten yesterday and I played eight holes just then. Got to see all the golf course now. I’ve just been doing the same prep as I would any other tournament but so far I’ve seen a lot of great things.
“A lot of short and long holes, so a mixture of everything. I think it’s going to be really exciting. Come the weekend, I think it’s going to be really tough, depending on how hard they make the firmness of the greens. I’m really excited for the week.
“I think just seeing the whole course now, there’s a lot — there’s really big greens, so a lot of the lag putting will be important for me, and just chipping around the greens.
“There’s a little bit of grain, so just got to be careful of that, and obviously ball-striking is going to be huge around here. Try and get everything dialed in.”
Lee is having her best year in the game with a win, one runner-up and one 3rd place finish in eight starts to head the money list over Nanna Koerstz Masden and world number one, Jin Young Ko, so on paper at least there is a real expectation that she can have a very good week.
With a total purse of US10 million on the line this week Lee was aware but trying to keep that aspect in perspective.
“I mean, I think we’re always talking about prize increases and anything to elevate the women’s game even higher. I think that is what we try to keep doing. Just for the prize money to go up each year, I think it’s just a huge step in the right direction, and I think it’s only going to get better and better.”
Lee will play at 8.28 on Thursday with Nasa Hataoka and Brooke Henderson.
Can Lydia Ko add to a great week for New Zealand golf?
Lydia Ko -during practice this week – photo Darren Carroll USGA
For a nation of its relatively small population New Zealand has boxed well above its weight in terms of its success in international golf.
Four players throughout its history have won major titles, namely Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell, Lydia Ko (2) and in this past week Steve Alker has done so in his age group when successful at the Senior PGA Championship.
It may well be that having won a total of five throughout its history, New Zealand golf could add a second in a week when Lydia Ko takes to the fairways of the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines in North Carolina in this week’s US Women’s Open.
Ko is currently ranked the 3rd highest ranked woman golfer in the world, a remarkable rebound after slipping outside the top 50 two years ago having her back close to the level of golf she was producing when winning the second of her two majors six years ago.
She went winless for nearly three years between April of 2018 and April of 2021 but not only have there been two wins since but it has been the consistency she was known for previously that has returned and her climb back up the rankings has been impressive and gutsy to say the least.
In her pre-event press conference today, however, Ko talked about needing to search for even greater consistency.
“Obviously I started off my season well winning the second tournament of the year, and I think that was the earliest win I’d had in a season,” said the still only 25 year old. “But I feel like there’s been ups and downs, and I still feel like there’s a lot of things to work on just to be a little bit more consistent throughout my game.
“I don’t think anyone ever feels like they’re perfect. There’s always something that could improve, and even when things are going well.
“It’s nice to kind of have my attention focused on the things that I want to work on, and hopefully the things that I was able to will work this week.
“Sometimes the ball-striking is great and the putting is not as good and vice versa. Just trying to get that more polished, and I think that way it gives less pressure on the other things, so it’s more like driving consistency would be probably my biggest thing.
“We’ve been trying to work on that, and I think the more times I keep putting those repetitions in, they’re all things that add up. And it might not show right away, but I know that all those reps count.”
Ko likes what she sees of the Pine Needles layout thus far further enhancing her prospects of a good week.
“I’ve already played a couple times out there. It’s nice. It’s so close to Pinehurst, but I feel like it’s different to Pinehurst.”
“It’s just a good mix. I knew that it was going to be a great golf course, obviously hosted so many big championships here, but I didn’t really know what it was going to be like and how my game would have to play around here.
“But it’s fun; I don’t think it suits one type of player and not someone that’s super long or super short. At the end of the day, especially at the U.S. Open, I think you do have to drive it really well, and with these greens having a lot of falloffs, having good ball-striking and giving yourself even 30- to 40-footers for birdies is not the end of the world.”
There has been a lot of talk about the fact that this week women’s golf plays for its richest ever purse (US$10 million) and Ko was asked her thoughts on being able to play for such a huge purse.
“At the end of the day it comes with results, right? Like, one of that matters if your results don’t follow.
“Those are like the extra bonuses and perks for us, I think. As an athlete and as a female athlete, to be able to play for this kind of money, I think it’s — not even just for my generation, but for the future generations.
“And when you see like what our founders played for, yes, the cost of living might have been cheaper than now, but still, I think we’re very — we should be very grateful, but at the same time I think there’s still a ways to go, and I’m excited where women’s golf and golf is trending.
“I think we’re all players and we’re here at one of the most prestigious events of the year at one of the biggest major championships, and I think that in itself is a win. Sometimes I think purse can really get in the way of what the actual meaning of this event is.
“I think for all of us that are in the field, we’re just excited to play the Women’s Open, and obviously for us to play for that amount of money, it’s an extra bonus.”
Ko has a morning tee time (9.05) on Thursday where she will play with Jessica Korda and Hannah Green
Huge Aussie line-up as Asian Tour break new ground
Scott Hend – much improved last week at the Dutch Open and one of Australia’s most successful Asian Tour players
The Asian Tour will break new ground this week when it plays an event near Newcastle in England, the first event played in Britain by the Asian Tour and the response from its members has been phenomenal.
It is perhaps not hard to understand given the US$2 million purse exceeds by some margin the average purse on the Asian Tour, but the costs involved in getting to Newcastle are not insignificant and that players from 29 countries have entered the event at Slaley Hall about 25 kilometres west of Newcastle tells the story of players hoping to take advantage of a unique opportunity.
It is also very much a one off event, with the previous Asian Tour event played in Japan two weeks ago and the next in Korea in three weeks time.
This week’s event is backed by Saudi money and is the second such event this season, the first having been played in Thailand in March for US$1.5 million.
In addition to the regular Australasian members of the Asian Tour currently entered, several more have a start courtesy of an invitation, those players including Louis Dobbelaar, Dimi Papdatos, West Australian Open winning amateur Hayden Hopewell, Tim Stewart, Andrew Martin and David Gleeson and New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia
That group will be joined by Asian Tour members Wade Ormsby, Blake Windred, Scott Hend, Andrew Dodt, Todd Sinnott, Travis Smyth, New Zealander Ben Campbell, Jake Higginbottom, Josh Younger, Daniel Fox, Will Heffernan, Scott Strange, Ben Eccles, Cory Crawford, Kevin Yuan and Sam Brazel.
Steve Alker adds major title to his impressive record
Steve Alker with the trophy for his biggest win in the game – photo PGA of America
New Zealand’s Steve Alker today won his 4th PGA Tour Champions event in his last eleven starts, the difference this week being that this win was a major and the cheque for US$630,000 takes his earnings in just nine months on the PGA Tour Champions to a massive US$2,615,000.
Alker’s earnings in 2022 alone total US$1,820,000, more than US$700,000 ahead of the next best, Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Alker’s final round of 63 at the Senior PGA Championship at the Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor in Michigan was set up with seven birdies in his first eleven holes and, despite a bogey at the 7th, when he added further birdies at the 15th and 16th he had a comfortable cushion to carry him to a three shot victory.
Alker began the final round four shots off the lead of Canadian Stephen Ames but just as he has in nearly every event he has played since joining the PGA Tour Champions as a Monday qualifier in August of 2021 he was relentless as he chased down not only Ames but also Bernhard Langer and Mike Weir.
After his round Alker was asked as so many have asked in recent months just were he had been all of his career.
“How long you got?” responded Alker, jokingly. “Basically, you know, I played a lot of different sports growing up and I love soccer and I wanted to play soccer about you golf just took over time-wise. Dad played. That’s going to be my career, that was it. I decided when I was young that was it.
“But started in the islands and Australasian Tour and did my heart yards down there and then I decided to do go Canada and try my luck there and went to America, as well, tried some qualifiers and things like that. Then got some BUY.COM status and nearly got my card in 2002, I think it was. BUY.COM and straight on the PGA Tour.
“It happened really quick, those two or three years, like wham. I had some pretty good form and feeling good. And then, you know, I just didn’t get it done out there. So just perseverance. That’s all I can say. Just perseverance with a capital P.”
“I can’t put my finger on one thing exactly,” he added when asked the reason for the success. “You know, I look back and I go, geez, did I really have the game or did I have the attitude? You know, certain courses suited me out there. But I couldn’t really put my finger on it exactly.
“I think right now, I’ve matured and it’s a second wind. That’s the biggest thing, I’ve had these 18 months, two years, 50s coming up, so let’s stay in shape. Let’s keep playing. We have a second career. Let’s go for it. Let’s go.”
The question of the money was raised and how nice it is to be picking up such big cheques now.
“It helps. You just think of — I’ve got a couple teenagers, college coming up, just take a deep breath and relax a little bit. There are so many people that have helped along the way and the support I’ve had has been amazing.
“But yeah, it’s nice to have a few dollars. For me, ultimately, to be out here and just challenge for golf tournaments, there’s no better feeling than winning.
“It’s a full field this week. Got a mix of PGA players and four rounds, players from all over the world, and just very honored. It’s an amazing trophy, you see the names and you choke up a little bit. It’s pretty cool.”
Australian Mark Hensby recorded his best finish on the PGA Tour Champions when he stormed home over the weekend with consecutive rounds of 67 to finish in a share of 8th. Hensby, a former PGA Tour winner and Presidents Cup team member, actually recorded three rounds of 67 but a second round 75 cost him dearly although he still earns a cheque for US$85,000
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Mark Hensby – impressive 8th place – photo PGA of America