After a long postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final major championship of the year, the U.S. Women’s Open took place. The tournament was held in Houston, Texas over two courses, the Champions Course Cypress Creek and the Champions Course Jackrabbit, the longest-running tournament currently on the LPGA Tour. Much was at stake for the ladies, playing for a coveted major title and a large purse of $5.5 million.
First Round
Amy Olson took the early lead with a four-under round of 67, highlighted with a hole in one on the par 3 16h at the Champions Course Cypress Creek. A Lim Kim, Moriya Jutanugarn shot three-under par at the Jackrabbit course, along with Hinako Shibuno at Cypress Creek to sit just a stroke behind. Seven players were two shots off the pace, including Sophia Popov, Gerina Piller and amateur Linn Grant. Ariya Jutanugarn, winner of the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open, was in a group of 12 at one-under. Cristie Kerr, who was in a golf cart accident just a week ago, was in a 13-player group at even that included Lydia Ko, Nasa Hataoka, and Inbee Park. Daniell Kang, Jessica Korda, and Brooke Henderson were among those at plus-one, while defending champion Jeonjeung Lee6 was six off the lead. Although she finished at plus-five, 20-year old Yu Jin Sung made a hole-in-one on her fourth career U.S. Women’s Open hole at Cypress Creek. Angela Stanford, who won last week, struggled at finished with an 80.
Second Round
The round of the day went to Hinako Shibuno, who recorded six birdies and two bogeys at Jackrabbit for a round of 67. She was the leader at the midpoint of the tournament by three shots over amateur Linn Grant, who posted a round of 69. Another amateur, Kaitlyn Papp was making a strong showing at Cypress Creek. She had five birdies and two bogeys and was at minus-three, along with Megan Khang and first-round leader Amy Olson. Several big names were lurking at minus-two, including the Jutanugarn sisters, Cristie Kerr, and Stacy Lewis. A half-dozen shots back were a group of six led by Sei Young Kim, Lydia Ko and Lizette Salas. Defending champion Jeongeung Lee6 was in a group of eight at even. The comeback round of the day was turned in by Jennifer Song, who rebounded from a 77 to a 68 to make the cut at plus-three. Notables that failed to make the cut after inconsistencies in their games were Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Mirim Lee, Georgia Hall, and Mel Reid.
Third Round
Scoring conditions were increasingly difficult during Saturday’s third round. Case in point was the play of Hinako Shibuno, who dropped three shots to par with a 74, including two bogeys on the last five holes. Despite her struggles, she held a one-shot lead of Amy Olson, whose two birdies on the back nine put her in good position for a Sunday run at the championship. The round of the day went to Ji Yeong2 Kim, whose clean score card of four birdies and 14 pars put her three off the pace. Moriya Jutanugarn also finished at minus-one but missed a golden opportunity for share of the lead after recording bogeys on three of her last five holes. Lydia Ko and 19-year-old Yealimi Noh were four back, while a group of six that included Cristie Kerr and Ariya Jutanugarn were within six shots of the lead. Stacy Lews was in the mix before a disastrous stretch that included bogeys at 13 and 14 and a double-bogey at 17. She finished with a 77 and was all but out of the championship at plus-four.
Final round
Sunday’s final round briefly got underway but was delayed and later suspended due to inclement weather. The final round resumed on Monday with cloud, cold and very difficult scoring conditions. Amy Olson, looking for her first LPGA Tour victory, started the day with three bogeys before settling down with two birdies. She eventually tied Hinako Shibuno for the lead at minus-two. Jin Young Ko made a strong push at the end with two birdies on the last three holes to finish at minus-two. Ariya Jutanugarn got as close at three, but was inconsistent all day with five birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey and finished tied for 9th at plus-three. Moriya Jutanugarn also stayed in the mix most of the day, but stumbled in the end to a 74 and finished at plus-two. Also, at plus-two were Inbee Park and Jeongueng Lee6. Shibuno ended up falling out of it and needed recorded a long birdie on the 18th to finish at plus-one, along with Megan Khang. Top amateur for the week as Katilyn Papp, who finished in the top ten at plus-three. The tournament belonged to A Lim Kim, who recorded three birdies on the front nine, scuffled mid-round and dropped three consecutive birdies on 16 through 18. Her minus-three total earned her the $1 million top prize and her first LPGA Tour and first major championship.
Up Next
The ladies of the LPGA Tour head to Naples, Florida for the CME Group Tour Championship December 17-20. Sei Young Kim nailed a 25-foot birdie putt on the last hole a year ago to win the $1.5 million prize. This year, in the ninth season of the event, the ladies will compete for a $3 million purse and 3500 points for CME Race to the Globe. Inbee Park currently leads with 2035 Globe Points followed by Danielle Kang, Sei Young Kim, and Nasa Hataoka.
