This time, she’ll have a three-stroke cushion over her nearest competitor and plenty of experience to draw on.
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“I think my (swing) is really good always, but before the tournament I changed my putter, so I have confidence”, Choi said. She played in the 2007 and 2009 US Opens, but surgery kept her from playing golf for a year.
“I remember just picking up the tee and thinking that’s a good shot, on the green, so let’s go work on that speed control now”, Lopez said of her shot.
Yang fought off a late challenge by Stacy Lewis to retain a three-shot lead heading into the final round. Yang, at eight-under 202, and Lewis, at 205, will be paired again Sunday. Lewis was at 5-under 205.
Despite wayward driving down the stretch, Spieth used brilliant iron play and a hot putter for his PGA Tour career best score to move to a 17-under 196 total, two strokes ahead of New Zealand’s Danny Lee, who shot a nine-under 62.
The defending champion posted a two-under par round of 68 for the second day in a row, but may be made to rue a poor opening day as she still remains six shots adrift of the leader, along with South Korea’s Inbee Park, Chella Choi and Michigan Hyang Lee.
Wie rebounded from an opening 72 with a 2-under 68 and was seven shots off the lead. That group includes top-ranked and two-time champion Inbee Park (70), first-round co-leader and Woodstock resident Jane Park (72) and Morgan Pressel (70). The South Korean had a three-foot putt for a share of the one-round scoring record at the tournament, but she was unable to sink it. Not a bad first U.S. Open appearance for Lopez. A year ago, she held the 54-hole lead and played in the final pairing with Wie, but finished fourth. In 2012 at Blackwolf Run, she had 71 and was runner-up to Na Yeon Choi.
Lewis, a two-time major victor, figures she needs to solve the slippery, sloping greens if she’s to overtake Yang.
“It’s just the severity of these greens”, said Lewis, who is tied for 26th with 96 putts over three rounds. “I just try to hit one shot at a time the best I can do”.
“This is my first U.S. Open and I just wanted to enjoy this competition as much as possible”, she said through an interpreter.
Eighteen-year-old Ko is yet to win a major in 14 previous attempts. “So this is an adventure to me. I’m good to go for tomorrow”. I know the golf courses are very tough and I make sure I am patient on the course.
Wie could be seen punching her left hip with a fist at one point on the back nine. “I felt like I hit some great shots that put a lot of pressure on her, and then she just would respond and hit it right in there with me”, said Lewis. “If you stay calm, it gives you more opportunities and just a little bit more steady golf”. On flat lies, it’s okay.
“I have struggled all year and I need some money to keep my card”, Brooks said.
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Wie emerged from a roller-coaster front nine on Saturday at even par 35, matching three birdies with three bogeys.
