Mao Saigo is poised for another major title at the U.S. Women’s Open
Japanese golfer Mao Saigo is showcasing her skills at the U.S. Women’s Open, after winning her first major title this year. Saigo leads the competition after a standout second round.
Saigo completed a round of 6 under par, with a total of 66 strokes on Friday, which secured her the lead at Erin Hills. With a cumulative score of 8 under par and 136 strokes, the 23-year-old player leads by three strokes a group of six competitors, including the prominent Nelly Korda.
If Saigo maintains this pace, he could finish the tournament at 16 under par, matching the score that Brooks Koepka achieved to win the U.S. Open at Erin Hills in 2017.
It’s very difficult to compare. The only thing I can say is that I will do my best and, as a result, I would like to get a good result.
Mao Saigo
Saigo celebrated her first LPGA Tour title just over a month ago, winning the Chevron Championship in a playoff.
Nelly Korda, who has never finished higher than eighth place at the U.S. Women’s Open, shot a round of 67 strokes, her best performance in this event.
I feel like I’ve had a very complicated relationship with the U.S. Opens, but I’m happy to be in the position I’m in heading into the weekend.
Nelly Korda
Korda is at 5 under par, along with Hinako Shibuno (69), Sarah Schmelzel (68), Maja Stark (69), Yealimi Noh (71) and the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open champion, A Lim Kim (71). Jing Yan (69), Lin Grant (69), Chiara Tamburlini (71) and Jinhee Im (72) are at 4 under par.
Korda improved her putting game, achieving seven birdies on Friday, after failing to get any on her first day until the 18th hole.
Honestly, yesterday I was making very good putts. I was hitting exactly where I wanted and they just weren’t going in. It was one of those days. Today I did the same.
Nelly Korda
A Lim Kim, one of the 18 competitors still on the course when play was suspended due to weather conditions for 54 minutes, was in second place at 6-under par.
Kim waited out the interruption in a car and then returned to par the 17th hole, before bogeying the 18th hole, falling into a tie for second place.Very good position. I love chasing the leader, so we’ll see.
A Lim Kim
Saigo, for his part, showed resilience after a start with some setbacks. After starting on the 10th hole and getting birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, Saigo bogeyed on the 14th hole, a par 5, when his third shot hit the flag and bounced back into a bunker.
However, he recovered with four birdies in five holes, from the 16th to the 2nd.
I thought it wasn’t my mistake. I just thought it was bad luck, and then I changed my mind.
Mao Saigo
The Friday’s play concluded with the suspension of the game due to darkness, leaving 12 players without completing their rounds.
