Some players, including Karrie Webb and Christina Kim, came back to the 18th green to watch Pak’s final shot and congratulate her on a remarkable career.
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South Koreans have won seven of the past 11 Opens, and even with world No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand now very much back in contention after a 5-under 66 that left her three shots out of the lead, Park could challenge to become the latest surprise victor, following up 20-year-old In Gee Chun a year ago.
And two strokes back there was Yang, who had at least a share of the 54-hole lead in each of the last two US Women’s Opens but finished runner-up to Chun In-gee of South Korea a year ago and settled for fourth in 2014 behind victor Michelle Wie.
“I didn’t do it on objective”, said the 29-year-old Swede. But a little bit of nerves is always good. She hasn’t entirely channeled Phil Mickelson – a six-time U.S. Open runner-up – but she been similarly haunted by this USGA smackdown. If she wins on Sunday she’ll be the youngest three-time major victor – ever. Winds were blowing. I could not for the life of me gain any sense of distance control out there.
She said: “Winning the Evian Championship gave me a lot of confidence to say, “Hey, I can play well at these Majors”.
That’s just ridiculous when you have to reach back to when Ulysses S. Grant was president of the United States and William Gladstone prime minister of the United Kingdom to find a comparison for Ko.
The projected cut line is four-over par, which sends home several notables including defending champion In Gee Chun, who missed her first cut as a member of the LPGA Tour this week.
Ko is tied for the fewest putts through three rounds.
She was tied on 139 with Japan’s Haru Nomura, who had four birdies in her 69.
Lang, 30, had previously only won once in 286 starts on the LPGA Tour, but showed she is not yet ready to let the youthful field of rising teenage stars take over the sport. No 4-ranked Lexi Thompson, who also played with Ko and Henderson, as also at 3-over. “I just tried to enjoy it out there”. But she let us in on her U.S. Women’s Open learning curve. She finished runner-up to In Gee Chun of South Korea past year and finished fourth in 2014 when Michelle Wie won. Last week: Brooke Henderson won the Cambia Portland Classic for her second victory this year. On the par-5 16th – his seventh hole – the five-time major champion ran a 2-iron to about 4 feet and made eagle. But I think when I look back it’s because it meant a lot. Anna represented us well and I know she fought as hard as she could over the last two days.
“I go partying”, Ko deadpanned.
She was also in trouble at 18, finding a hazard off the tee but rolling in a 15-footer to save par and walk off the green tied with overnight leader Lee – whose second-round 74 was 10 strokes higher than her record-equalling opening round of eight-under. That came before first-round leader Mirim Lee, of the Republic of Korea, even hit her initial drive off the first tee box. She’s shot 71 and is six strokes back. “That’s why I am comfortable, don’t even think about the winning”.
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“I nearly think my par on 14 was the more meaningful putt of the two”. Matteo Manassero and Branden Grace (both 67) were in a four-way tie for fourth on 6-under overall.
