Minjee Lee during practice in Houston on Monday – USGA Simon Bruty
Although few would have thought such would be the case when the 2020 golfing year began, it has taken until the second week of December for the final major championship of either gender to be decided.
That contest begins on Thursday when the US Women’s Open is played at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.
Three of the now traditional five major championships in the female game have been played in 2020, the fifth, the Evian Championship, the only victim of Covid 19 amongst the elite events in women’s golf.
This week’s US Women’s Open will, for the first occasion, be played over two courses, the move deemed necessary to ensure the full field of 156 will complete the opening 36 holes within the hours of light, those hours reduced due to the event being played in the first week of winter in the US.
The courses being used are both part of the Champions Golf Club in Houston, the Cypress Creek and Jackrabbit layouts utilised on the opening two days before the event reverts to the course originally selected to host the event before Covid 19 took its toll, Cypress Creek, to settle the outcome over the weekend.
The Cypress Creek course has previously held the Ryder Cup, the US Open, the US Amateur and five PGA Tour Championships amongst others, was opened in 1957 followed not too long after by the Jackrabbit layout.
Australia has won this event on two occasions, the first when Jan Stephenson won the first of her two major titles in 1983 and again in 2000 and 2001 when Karrie Webb won consecutive titles.
In 2020 Australia will field six competitors and they will be joined by two New Zealanders, one of the stronger representations from down under numerically for some time.
Perth’s, Minjee Lee, is a player good enough to win a major title but in six attempts at the US Open she has yet to record a top ten, her best coming when 11th in 2017.
Lee has been in solid if unspectacular form of late although a win in a Ladies European Tour event in Dubai a month ago provides a level of confidence to tackle this significantly stronger field.
Lee’s fellow West Australian, Hannah Green, is Australia’s only major winner in the field but she has yet to record a top ten in 2020 and on that basis it is hard to believe she could repeat the heroics of her win at the Women’s KPMG PGA Championship 18 months ago.
This will be just the second US Women’s Open for Green having finished tied for 34th last year.
Queensland’s, Katherine Kirk, will play her 16th US Women’s Open and as such is by far the most experienced Australian in the field. In all those starts however she has a best of 25th and although she has impressed with some good tournaments in the latter half of 2020, her chances of contending appear slim.
Victorian, Su Oh, plays her 6th US Women’s Open, 17th at Shoal Creek in 2018 her best finish. Oh has been in a horror run of form in 2020 but in recent starts things appear to be improving with an 11th place at the recent Volunteers event a significant improvement for the still only 24 year old.
Su Hyun Oh – practising on Monday – photo USGA Robert Beck
Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith has struggled since her return from the birth of her first child although her two most recent tournaments have shown improvement. This will be the 36 year old’s 8th US Open, perhaps boxing above her weight when 5th in 2018.
Smith is no doubt being back playing the game she loves after the early stages of motherhood but it is hard to see her reaching the heights of two years ago.
Australia’s final entrant is the outstanding Gabi Ruffels who has yet to turn professional and is a attending the University of Southern California. Ruffels gained her start courtesy of her runner-up finish at this year’s US Women’s Amateur when defending her 2019 victory in the same event.
The 20 year old Ruffels played with distinction at the recent ANA Inspiration when 15th against a field not a lot weaker then this and she is considered by many to be a future star of the game.
above – Gabi Julius on course on Monday – photo USGA
Two New Zealanders take their place in the field, headed of course by the amazing Lydia Ko who gets to play her 9th US Women’s Open.
Surprisingly for a player of her standing and record, a 3rd place finish in 2016 is her only top ten result in those eight previous attempts. Ko is, however, playing well at present with top tens in her last three starts and is slowly returning to somewhere near the sort of form which saw her dominate the game three years ago and there is every reason to believe she can be in contention come Sunday.
Christchurch golfer, Amelia Garvey, gets her chance to play in a major for the first occasion, her world ranking in the amateur ranks securing her place in the field.
Garvey attends the University of Southern California where she has performed with distinction, her record in the amateur ranks including a runner-up finish at the British Amateur in 2019
Garvey was the runner-up to Emily Toy in that Women’s Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A, at Royal Country Down. She also represented New Zealand in the 2018 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship.
Understandably Minjee Lee and Lydia Ko are the standouts as far as the Australasian challenge is concerned although they will be hard pressed to handle the likes of inform world number one, Jin Young Ko, and her fellow Koreans, Inbee Park and Sei Young Kim, Kim winning her last two events.
World Number One Jin Young Ko – photo USGA Simon Bruty
Hannah Green Finds Late Season Form in Florida
Hannah Green – file photo Bruce Young
By her own now high standards, 2020 has to date been a quiet year for West Australian, Hannah Green, but it might be that the final event of the year provides not only her first top ten in 14 starts this season but something considerably better.
Green finds herself just two shots from the 36-hole leader, Jin Young Ko, at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples in Florida and in outright 4th place.
Green added a second round of 68 to her opening 69 and it may just be that her pending trip home to Australia and necessary quarantine when she gets there might be made more enjoyable if accompanied by a third LPGA Tour trophy.
“I’m leaving on Tuesday,” said Green. “I’ve got about a 40, 45-hour journey to get back to Perth, and then as soon as I got there I’m in a hotel for two weeks and not by choice.
“Once I leave the airport I get shuttled to a hotel and pretty much have to do 13 nights, 14 days, and then I can go out and be back at home and live a normal life.
“So I’ve heard a lot of stories. Some people have really struggled and some people don’t mind it. I think because it’s at the end of the year after a short but long year, that I’ll mainly be doing a lot of sleep and Netflix.
“So hopefully the food is good and my parents can bring me some things to entertain myself.”
“I feel like I’m hitting a lot of fairways and greens, which is really important here. Also when miss-hitting it, it’s very easy to miss greens here, so making sure you don’t short-side yourself and leave yourself in the best possible place to make up and downs.
“I think I’ve done a great job with that. Over the last couple weeks it’s been a struggle dealing with the cold. I’m not used to those temperatures, so it’s nice to come here and be able to just wear one layer and feel where your swing is.
“I’m really excited. Only two more rounds left for the season. Sounds really crazy, but I’m super excited.”
Green trails the world number one, Jin Young Ko, with Sei Young Kim and Lexi Thompson tied for second so the task ahead is tough one, but she is nicely placed heading into the weekend.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko put together the best round of the day (65) to recover from her slow start to the event and has moved within four of the lead. Ko is tied for 11th. Ko talked after her round of the things she is addressing with her game along with recently appointed coach, Sean Foley.
“I think when I’m out there I’m really thinking about the technical standpoint. I think sometimes to be honest the thing that gets in my way is myself, of me feeling like, Okay, is this going to go straight, left, right, you know, all those weird thoughts that go through your head.
“That’s why Sean has been helpful in that kind of standpoint as well, trying to build me confidence. He sends me some songs randomly throughout the week and he gets me to listen to them as well.
“I think obviously the more I see it doing what I think it should be doing, the confidence kind of builds and the negative, I guess experiences, before are kind of slowly going away.”
“I think it’s like a building process, but I’m definitely out there not thinking too much about the technical thing. I think it’s more about being out there just believing in had myself and hitting it as confidently as I could.”
Katherine Kirk is the next best of the Australians in 13th place and five from the lead and suggested later that, despite playing well of late, she arrived in Naples with little expectation after a tough week at last week’s US Women’s Open.
“Last week kind of beat me up, so I didn’t expect much coming in this week, to be honest,” said the Queenslander.
“I knew I was hitting it okay, but perhaps not as well as other weeks during the last few months. I would say the confidence was okay but it certainly wasn’t at its high.
“But I’m thankful this week my putting is cooperating a little bit more than last week, so I’m happy about that.”
Minjee Lee is another shot behind Kirk, with Sarah Kemp at 1 over and ten from the lead.
Sarah Kemp Gains Surprise Start At Tour Championship
A great opportunity for Sarah Kemp – file photo Bruce Young
A horror year for international golf finally comes to an end this weekend when the final event of the LPGA Tour season is completed at the CME Group Tour Championship at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples in Florida.
The US3 million event has attracted a field of 72, four of them Australians along with New Zealander Lydia Ko who is playing an event she won in 2014 after a playoff. The leading 70 players for the season make the field and in a strange twist for such a significant event two sponsors invites make up the field.
In a pleasant surprise for Australians, Sarah Kemp has gained a start in the event, being included as one of the two invitations along with Natalie Gulbis. Kemp has a commercial arrangement with the CME Group but the inclusion of she and Gulbis is somewhat of a surprise despite the rights of a tournament sponsor to invite who they like.
It is, though, a great opportunity for Kemp who has just $US43,000 to her name for the season and who has made just five cuts in the 13 events she has played on the LPGA Tour in 2020. It will be the first time Kemp has played the event.
Minjee Lee, Katherine Kirk and Hannah Green are the other Australians in the field and will be joined by their trans-Tasman colleague Ko.
Lee has a less than impressive record in the event having recorded just the one top ten (7th) on debut in 2015. Green has been no better than 48th in her two appearances and Kirk’s best was when 18th last year.
A Lim Kim Provides Korea’s 11th US Women’s Open Winner
Photo USGA Robert Beck
South Korea has unearthed yet another golfing superstar with the success of A Lim Kim in today’s final round of the US Women’s Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.
Kim’s final round of 67, which included birdies at her final three holes, saw her finish one shot clear of joint runners-up and first round leader, Amy Olson and the current world number one, Jin Young Ko.
Kim moved into the lead with an outward nine of 33 but bogeys at her 10th and 11th holes appeared to derail her chances of victory on debut in the female game’s most significant female event.
She would, though, close strongly and when she holed a curling left to right 12-footer at the last she had the lead and set the target for those playing in the groups behind.
Kim secures the last of three consecutive birdies to set the mark – photo USGA Robert Beck
Olson was then only one behind but a bogey at the 16th would mean a birdie, birdie finish was required for her to catch Kim. She made a great par save from the bunker at the 17th and birdied the 18th but fell one short.
So too did Ko but her round of 68 was the second best of the day behind the winner and continued an impressive recovery from her opening round of 73.
54 hole leader, Hinako Shibuno finished alone in 4th position, all four players the only golfers to finish the week under par on the demanding Crystal Creek layout at the Champions Club.
Kim was tied for ninth place entering the final round, making this the largest 54-hole comeback to win, by position, in U.S. Women’s Open history.
Kim is the fifth player in U.S. Women’s Open history to win in her debut, and the first since In Gee Chun in 2015. Even more incredible is that this was her first-ever start in any professional major championship.
When asked as to her mindset ahead of today’s round Kim responded: “To be honest, it was a little bit disappointing the third round on Saturday so I decided to come out today and try to be the aggressive player that I was, try to attack the pin, and it actually worked out today.”
Kim, who possesses an outstanding golf swing, becomes the 11th Korean woman to win the Women’s US Open, a run that started with Se Ri Kim’s trailblazing effort back in 1998 and clearly her feat will take time to sink in for the 25 year old.
“Can’t really describe it in words. I never expected that I was going to appear in the U.S. Women’s Open. I still can’t feel what it’s like right now, but I’ll probably feel it when the ceremony and everything wraps up today.”
Her victory was made all the more meritorious given its was her first time in the event and that she had never been exposed to Bermuda grass previously.
“Back in Korea there’s no Bermudagrass, so for me it was really — it took some time for me to get used to Bermudagrass, especially hitting the irons off the grass. You really need some kind of skill, different style of swing
in order to hit the ball out of the Bermudagrass.
“But love this golf course, love this environment. I even said earlier I want to actually put a tent up here and stay a
few more days.”
Kim has won twice on the Korean LPGA Tour and is not yet a member of the LPGA Tour although this might potentially change that. She arrived in the US for her debut in this event having recorded top tens in each of her last four starts in her homeland.
Another impressive week for Gabi Ruffels – photo USGA Chris Keane
The Australasian challenge was headed by 20 year old amateur Gabi Ruffels and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, the pair sharing 13th, Ruffels continuing to build towards what must now be considered a considerable professional career.
Ruffels’ round of 70 was the third best of the day and was highlighted by a massive six birdies.
“I guess I was pretty in the moment, I didn’t even realize I had six birdies,” said Ruffels. “But, yeah, I played pretty well today, I was really, really happy with the round. It was definitely one of the tougher days, conditions-wise, especially this morning it was pretty cold, warmed up a little bit.”
“It’s been awesome,” added Ruffels when asked her thoughts on the week. “I think I might have come top-15, still not sure yet, still a lot of golf out there, but it was awesome, so much fun.
“I feel like any time I can kind of mix it with the pros and know that I can compete against them it’s a great week. I feel like I did that this week and just gained a lot of confidence.”
For Ko it was a day of disappointment given her standing through 36 holes. Her round of 76 saw her slip from 5th to 13th place and while one of her better finishes in this particular event it was a day of what might have been. Ko recorded five bogeys and no birdies.
Hannah Green finished 40th, Minjee Lee 46th and Su Oh last of those who made the cut following her final horror round of 81.
A disappointing day for Lydia Ko – photo Simon Bruty USGA
US Women’s Open to be decided on Monday
The dismal scene at the Champions Golf Club this morning – photo USGA Jeff Haynes
The final round of the 2020 US Women’s Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, has been delayed 24 hours following the suspension of play due to course conditions and the prospect of inclement and dangerous weather on Sunday afternoon.
“We want to ensure course conditions are worthy of crowning a major champion,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s Senior Managing Director, Championships.
Despite tee times being brought forward in anticipation of the approaching weather, the deluge the course had suffered overnight, along with the prospect of further downpours would mean that 18 players had still to even start their rounds when play was initially called at 9.10am local time.
20 millimetres fell in the 24 hours preceding the decision and combined with the approaching weather, it left officials with no option other than to abandon play for the day.
Of those who had made a start to play, Australian Gabi Ruffels was doing best, the amateur 2 under through five holes, a run that had included three birdies. Julius has improved into 25th position at 4 over.
Play will resume at 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. local time) on Monday, Dec. 13.
Gabi Julius made a nice start in the bleak conditions today – photo Chris Keane USGA
SCORES
Hopes Alive for Lydia Ko in Houston
An impressive third round of 1 over 72 over the increasingly demanding Crystal Creek layout at the Champions Golf Club in Houston has given New Zealand’s Lydia Ko a realistic chance of a first US Women’s Open title.
Ko’s round, which included one birdie and two bogeys was one of the better of the day and after starting the day in a share of 14th position and six shots from the lead of Hinako Shibuno, she finds herself just four behind and only four players ahead of her as she enters tomorrow’s final round.
Of the four players ahead of her, only Shibuno has previously won a major title so Ko’s chances may well be dependent on how Shibuno handles the pressure of winning the female game’s greatest title.
Ko is four shots behind the impressive front-runner but this is a golf course on which an accident is waiting to happen around every corner and the Japanese player’s narrow lead leaves her vulnerable tomorrow.
Two late bogeys cost the 2019 AIG Women’s Open Champion a substantial lead but she remains the player to beat tomorrow.
For Ko it is not only those ahead of her on the leaderboard she needs to consider, but also those in her rear vision mirror, as the likes of, Ariya Jutanugarn, Jin Young Ko and Sei Young Kim are just one (Jutanugarn) and two behind Ko and lurking as yet contenders for the title.
“It was pretty tough, especially at the start.” said Ko when asked how demanding the course played today.
“I think going into the day I knew that it was a different wind direction to the other days, so I knew that the holes would play quite differently. But with the first few holes being all into the wind and it raining last from yesterday afternoon overnight I think definitely made the course a lot softer, hence made it a lot longer.”
The issue of mud on the ball was a factor for all today and perhaps added an additional element of luck not normally the case in major championship golf.
“We had one shot on No. 2 and it’s like, Do I need to aim like on the next tee box for it to like move? Because it’s really hard. It’s not like there’s an exact science — or maybe there is, I just don’t know that I guess equation on how to factor mud balls.”
Ko was asked as to how she felt about her chances tomorrow.
“I think definitely coming from behind you’re playing with a little bit more of an aggressive strategy compared to somebody that’s probably trying to protect the lead or run off with the lead.
“But she (Shibuno) seems like she’s doing an incredible job and she’s also a major champion, so she’s been out there being out there like a smiling Cinderella.
“So I’m sure at points it’s going to feel like it’s going to be tough to catch her, but I just got to go out there, focus on my game and play the best golf I can and what happens outside of that is, I just got to accept what comes my way.”
Hannah Green is the leading Australian after her round of two over par 73 saw her improve several places from where she stood on the cutline through 36 holes. Green is at 5 over and tied for 33rd.
Hannah Green today – leads the Australians – photo USGA
Green was pleasantly surprised at the progress she made despite shooting over par today.
“It felt like I was more consistent than what the score showed, but it was pretty tough there,” said the Perth golfer.
“I was saying to my caddie, I don’t think I’ve ever hit so many hybrids into par-4s and par-3s before. The first three holes I had hybrid, so, yeah, it was tough. Looking at my score I was quite surprised that I’m in the position that I am. Even shooting over par I’ve gained some strokes on the field.”
Gabriela Ruffels is one shot behind Green at 6 over and in a share of 39th place, Minjee Lee is at 7 over and Su Oh at 10 over.
The round of the day and the equal best round of the week came from Ji Yeong Kim2 who, after starting the day ten shots from the lead, moved from the cutline to a share of third and just three from the lead. Her effort highlights just what might be possible with an under par round tomorrow.
Hinako Shibuno – her lead reduced to one – photo Simon Bruty USGA
SCORES
Lydia Ko Contending at US Women’s Open
Ko in full flight today – photo USGA Simon Bruty
Lydia Ko has taken over as the leading Australasian at the US Women’s Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston and while six shots from the halfway leader, Hinako Shibuno, she is tied in 14th place and well enough positioned on a demanding layout on which her experience and improving game could yet pay significant dividends.
Ko added a second round of 70 over the Crystal Creek layout, one of two being used in the opening 36 holes of the event, a late bogey a disappointment after what had been solid progress to that point.
Ko is however only three shots from the second placed Linn Grant, a Swedish amateur, and two shots ahead of her are three players yet to win a major title so her chances of contending over the weekend appear good.
The news wasn’t as good for her fellow countrywoman, Amelia Garvey, who, after heading the Australasian contingent with an opening round of 70, fell victim to the closing stretch of holes on the Jackrabbit layout and has missed the cut by one.
Garvey was well placed in terms of making it into the weekend with just four holes to play but five dropped shots in three holes from the 15th, including a triple bogey at the 16th, saw a gut-wrenching demise for the 20-year-old.
“Just that I know I belong here, I guess,” said Garvey when asked what she might take from the week. “Obviously first major experience, first proper tour competition. So I know my game is there.”
Ko, however, now has the opportunity to advance her cause over the weekend, although she was hardly inspired by her play.
“I don’t think I hit the ball as well today, but I made a lot of good up-and-downs,” said Ko. “No, I feel like it was a case where it could have been better but it could have been worse. So yeah, another solid round. Hopefully take that kind of momentum going into the weekend.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to hit it a little better. It’s not like it was bad, but just keep hitting it confidently out there and give myself good opportunities. I felt like my speed control with the putter was a lot better today, so kind of work on that a little bit and rest up for a good weekend.”
US-based Victorian amateur, Gabriela Ruffels, heads the Australians in 29th place after her round of 1 over 72 at the Jackrabbit course, leaving her eight shots from the lead but obly five shots out of second place.
Ruffel’s performance was made even more meritorious by the fact that she played with the leader, Shibuno and defending champion Jeong Eun Lee6.
Ruffels continues her exposure to the game’s best when she plays with world number one, Jin Young Ko and major champion, Danielle Kang, in round three.
Gabi Ruffels – photo USGA Robert Beck – heads the Australians thus far
When asked why there has been such an impressive showing of the amateurs to date this week, Ruffels responded: “It shows that women’s amateur golf is in pretty good form right now. I’ve known that since I started college.
“I’ve been playing against the top amateurs in college and have been super impressed and impressed with the they have been able to kind of put it against the best women in the world. So I’m actually not surprised at that.
“I feel like just playing with each other week in and week out. Even on my team we have I think four or five in the top 100 in the world. It’s always competitive. Week in week out we’re playing Stanford and all these really, really good teams and playing with each other every week, so I think it’s just if everyone is good it elevates everyone else.”
Su Oh, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green round out the Australasian contingent to make it into the weekend, the trio at 3 over and on the cutline and while ten shots from the lead they are only seven shots out of second place.
Su Oh – just makes the cut – Photo USGA
Sarah Jane Smith missed the cut by one along with Garvey while Katherine Kirk was a long way further back. Smith bogeyed her final hole to miss the chance of advancing her cause.
The leader Shibuno might not be all that familiar on the global stage but she has already won a major title when successful at the AIG Women’s Open Championship 16 months ago. She has also been a prolific winner of money and titles in her homeland of Japan.
Her standing three shots clear of the field, therefore, is not as surprising as it might appear.
The halfway leader Hinako Shibuno – photo USGA Robert Beck
SCORES
NZ’s Amelia Garvey Impresses at US Women’s Open
Amelia Garvey lines up a shot today – Photo USGA Jeff Haynes
New Zealand’s 20 year old amateur, Amelia Garvey, leads the Australasian contingent after the opening round of the US Women’s Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston in Texas.
Garvey recorded an opening round of 1 under par 70 at the Crystal Creek layout, one of two courses being used in the opening 36 holes of the event in order to fit in with the reduced light at this time of year in the US.
UK born but Christchurch raised, Garvey, who is in her third year at the University of Southern California, had achieved significant success in the amateur ranks even before heading to California, but her game has blossomed under the US Collegiate system and coach, Justin Silverstein.
One of her teammates at the USC is Australian, Gabriela Ruffels, who won the US Amateur in 2019 and finished runner-up this year in the same event.
Interestingly, Ruffels recorded an opening round of even par today to be just one behind Garvey.
In 2019 Garvey finished runner-up at the Women’s Amateur Championship in Britain and earned her place in what is her first major championship courtesy of her ranking inside the top 25 in the women’s amateur rankings.
Garvey birdied her opening hole of the day and made the turn in two under 33. She held things together on her closing nine and finds herself just three shots from the opening round leader, Amy Olson of the US and tied in 12th position.
“Unreal”, said Garvey when asked to describe her day.” “I just had so much fun out there, yeah. After eight months after, I thought I would be a bit more rusty, and nice to be 1-under, so really happy with where the game was at. Obviously, there was a few nerves, but just tried to stay present and one shot at a time.”
Garvey played with her fellow New Zealander, Ko, in a practice round earlier in the week and was boosted by Ko’s vote of confidence in her game.
“She was just raving on about she hasn’t seen me play for three years,” said Garvey. “The last time I sort of played with her was when I did the Lydia Ko scholarship before I went off to college, so she was just telling me how my game is there, I just need to back myself really.
“So that was really a good confidence booster going in to today. Obviously, I had a few nerves playing with her, as well, so it was a nice way to set up into the first round. But yeah, it was so much fun out there. It was just me and her, as well, so got to pick her brains a little bit, and just enjoy it out there with her.”
Lydia Ko – a round of 71 today – photo USGA Robert Beck
Ruffels is at even par 71 as is Garvey’s fellow New Zealander, Lydia Ko, who played the Jackrabbit layout today, her round highlighted by a holed approach for eagle at the 14th but brought undone to some extent by a double bogey at the 2nd (her 11th).
Minjee Lee a slow but not disastrous start – photo Chris Keane USGA
West Australian, Hannah Green, did little damage with her opening round of 72, Minjee Lee holed a lengthy birdie putt at the last for a round of 3 over 74, Katherine Kirk and Su Oh had 75 while Sarah Jane Smith opened with a round of 76.
The opening round leader Amy Olson – photo USGA – Jeff Haynes
Scores
Australasians Face Last Major Challenge of 2020
Minjee Lee during practice in Houston on Monday – USGA Simon Bruty
Although few would have thought such would be the case when the 2020 golfing year began, it has taken until the second week of December for the final major championship of either gender to be decided.
That contest begins on Thursday when the US Women’s Open is played at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.
Three of the now traditional five major championships in the female game have been played in 2020, the fifth, the Evian Championship, the only victim of Covid 19 amongst the elite events in women’s golf.
This week’s US Women’s Open will, for the first occasion, be played over two courses, the move deemed necessary to ensure the full field of 156 will complete the opening 36 holes within the hours of light, those hours reduced due to the event being played in the first week of winter in the US.
The courses being used are both part of the Champions Golf Club in Houston, the Cypress Creek and Jackrabbit layouts utilised on the opening two days before the event reverts to the course originally selected to host the event before Covid 19 took its toll, Cypress Creek, to settle the outcome over the weekend.
The Cypress Creek course has previously held the Ryder Cup, the US Open, the US Amateur and five PGA Tour Championships amongst others, was opened in 1957 followed not too long after by the Jackrabbit layout.
Australia has won this event on two occasions, the first when Jan Stephenson won the first of her two major titles in 1983 and again in 2000 and 2001 when Karrie Webb won consecutive titles.
In 2020 Australia will field six competitors and they will be joined by two New Zealanders, one of the stronger representations from down under numerically for some time.
Perth’s, Minjee Lee, is a player good enough to win a major title but in six attempts at the US Open she has yet to record a top ten, her best coming when 11th in 2017.
Lee has been in solid if unspectacular form of late although a win in a Ladies European Tour event in Dubai a month ago provides a level of confidence to tackle this significantly stronger field.
Lee’s fellow West Australian, Hannah Green, is Australia’s only major winner in the field but she has yet to record a top ten in 2020 and on that basis it is hard to believe she could repeat the heroics of her win at the Women’s KPMG PGA Championship 18 months ago.
This will be just the second US Women’s Open for Green having finished tied for 34th last year.
Queensland’s, Katherine Kirk, will play her 16th US Women’s Open and as such is by far the most experienced Australian in the field. In all those starts however she has a best of 25th and although she has impressed with some good tournaments in the latter half of 2020, her chances of contending appear slim.
Victorian, Su Oh, plays her 6th US Women’s Open, 17th at Shoal Creek in 2018 her best finish. Oh has been in a horror run of form in 2020 but in recent starts things appear to be improving with an 11th place at the recent Volunteers event a significant improvement for the still only 24 year old.
Su Hyun Oh – practising on Monday – photo USGA Robert Beck
Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith has struggled since her return from the birth of her first child although her two most recent tournaments have shown improvement. This will be the 36 year old’s 8th US Open, perhaps boxing above her weight when 5th in 2018.
Smith is no doubt being back playing the game she loves after the early stages of motherhood but it is hard to see her reaching the heights of two years ago.
Australia’s final entrant is the outstanding Gabi Ruffels who has yet to turn professional and is a attending the University of Southern California. Ruffels gained her start courtesy of her runner-up finish at this year’s US Women’s Amateur when defending her 2019 victory in the same event.
The 20 year old Ruffels played with distinction at the recent ANA Inspiration when 15th against a field not a lot weaker then this and she is considered by many to be a future star of the game.
above – Gabi Julius on course on Monday – photo USGA
Two New Zealanders take their place in the field, headed of course by the amazing Lydia Ko who gets to play her 9th US Women’s Open.
Surprisingly for a player of her standing and record, a 3rd place finish in 2016 is her only top ten result in those eight previous attempts. Ko is, however, playing well at present with top tens in her last three starts and is slowly returning to somewhere near the sort of form which saw her dominate the game three years ago and there is every reason to believe she can be in contention come Sunday.
Christchurch golfer, Amelia Garvey, gets her chance to play in a major for the first occasion, her world ranking in the amateur ranks securing her place in the field.
Garvey attends the University of Southern California where she has performed with distinction, her record in the amateur ranks including a runner-up finish at the British Amateur in 2019
Garvey was the runner-up to Emily Toy in that Women’s Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A, at Royal Country Down. She also represented New Zealand in the 2018 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship.
Understandably Minjee Lee and Lydia Ko are the standouts as far as the Australasian challenge is concerned although they will be hard pressed to handle the likes of inform world number one, Jin Young Ko, and her fellow Koreans, Inbee Park and Sei Young Kim, Kim winning her last two events.
World Number One Jin Young Ko – photo USGA Simon Bruty
The Rise and Rise of Stephanie Kyriacou
Kyriacou – photo Ladies European Tour
2020 has been a tough one for professional golfers generally, and Australian golfers in particular, because of the tyranny of distance they have faced in trying to ply their trade.
There have been some notable examples of those who have emerged with considerable success despite those difficulties however and one such golfer is New South Wales’ Stephanie Kyriacou.
Kyriacou, who turned 20 this past weekend, has recorded a win and six top tens in tens starts in her rookie season on the Ladies European Tour, has accumulated close to €100,000 in earnings and will comfortably be named rookie of the year when the season draws to a close in Spain this weekend.
Kyriacou turned professional following her victory in the Geoff King Motors Australian Ladies Classic as an amateur in February which earned her the right to play the LET in 2020 and she has taken full advantage.
The Sydney golfer finished runner-up at this week’s LET event in Saudi Arabia, with a stunning final round of 63 which included two eagles including a hole out at the last to follow her 4th place also in Saudi Arabia a week earlier.
She now plays the Andalucia Open de Spain to finish off what has been a remarkable season in so many respects.
Footnote – Kyriacou has made the decision to head home to Sydney ahead of the final event as having booked her return flight home earlier in the season before qualifying for the end of season event, there was not another option until February.
Kyriacou with her trophy in Bonville earlier this year – Tristan Jones LET
Parallels Between Kanaya and Matsuyama Continue
Kanaya during his successful amateur career – photo Asia Pacific Amateur
Japan’s Takumi Kanaya looks set to follow in the footsteps of his fellow Japanese star, Hideki Matsuyama, following his victory in this week’s Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Miyazaki in Japan, the 22 year old surviving a playoff to win one of the more significant events on the Japan Tour.
Kanaya, who turned professional only last month, has finished 7th, 5th and now 1st in his three events in the paid ranks, transitioning almost seamlessly from an outstanding amateur career.
Kanaya, who finished tied for 3rd as an amateur at last year’s Australian Open, had already won on the Japan Tour when successful at the Visa Taiheiyo Championship 12 months ago but had been the world number one amateur for a total of 55 weeks prior to turning professional.
Matsuyama had also won the Visa Taiheiyo Championship as an amateur in 2011 and has also won the Dunlop Phoenix as a professional.
Amongst Kanaya’s victories in the amateur ranks was the 2018 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, an event won on two occasions by Matsuyama and while very different in style as golfers, Kanaya appears as if a professional career as successful as that of Matsuyama’s is ahead of him.
Kanaya had also finished runner-up at the 2017 Japan Open and so for some time now has been on the cusp of success in the professional ranks.
Kanaya is finishing his senior year at university in Japan, the same university that Matsuyama attended in his college days.
Adelaide based coach, Gareth Jones, has played a significant role in the development of Kanaya having been the Japan Team coach for several years now and assisting Kanaya in the transition to the professional ranks.
Already ranked inside the top 200 in the world, this week’s victory will move Kanaya close to the top 125.