World No. 1 Yani Tseng climbed to the 29th spot on the second day of the US Women’s Open on Friday, swinging a score of par 72.
The Taiwanese star player said she felt dissatisfied with her performance on Friday, despite having made an improvement after shooting a two-over 74 to end up tied for 38th in the first round of the tournament.
“There are two more days,” she said, vowing to do her best to improve her performance.
Photo: AFP
Norway’s Suzann Pettersen did not let a hectic morning slow her down, firing a four-under 68 on Friday to seize the lead as Michelle Wie surged up the leaderboard behind her.
“My game is very solid,” said Pettersen, ranked sixth in the world. “My ball striking is good. My short game is good. And my putting has been really good so far.”
Those good things saw her build a 36-hole total of five-under par 139, one stroke ahead of Wie and Cristie Kerr.
Pettersen’s round included five birdies and just one bogey as she maintained her focus despite oversleeping and rushing to make her tee time.
Pettersen, playing in the group behind Wie, was able to see some of the American’s hard-charging six-under 66.
“She was fist-pumping, every putt she looked at,” Pettersen said of Wie, who has endured a disappointing season so far.
Wie, 22, has been making headlines in golf for a decade, qualifying for an LPGA tour event at the age of 12 in 2002.
She competed in a handful of men’s tournaments, but has battled to find consistent success since turning her attention to the LPGA.
“The fact that you’re in contention to have a chance to win the US Open is a big deal,” Wie said. “I’m so grateful I have that chance right now. I’m really looking forward to seeing the crowds tomorrow and experiencing it all again.”
Kerr, the 2007 US Women’s Open champion, shared the overnight lead with fellow Americans Lizette Salas and Brittany Lincicome, and followed up with a 71. Salas, 22, fell back with a 73 while Lincicome ballooned to an 80.
Germany’s Sandra Gal, South Korean Park Inbee and Vicky Hurst were tied on three-under 141, each shooting 70.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung, Doris Chen and Amy Hung all failed to make the cut.
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