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USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Can Mao Saigo, 36-hole leader of the 80th U.S. Women's Open, win another major?
Can Mao Saigo, 36-hole leader of the 80th U.S. Women's Open, win another major? Show Caption Hide Caption Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko speak on playing Erin Hills for 2025 U.S. Women's Open World No. 1 player Nelly Korda and world No. 3 Lydia Ko speak on the challenge of playing Erin Hills for 2025 U.S. Women's Open. ERIN, Wisconsin – Mao Saigo, who earned her first LPGA Tour victory in the most recent major, stormed to the lead early in the second round of the 80th U.S. Women's Open and held on May 30 at Erin Hills. Mao Saigo's 66 was the best round of the tournament and left her 8-under heading into the third round May 31 with a three-stroke lead over a group of six players. Click here for complete coverage of the third round of play. Meet Mao Saigo Age: 23 Nationality: Japanese. How many professional wins does Mao Saigo have? Mao Saigo has seven professional victories, one victory on the LPGA Tour and six on the LPGA Tour of Japan. Has Mao Saigo won a women's golf major? Mao Saigo's only LPGA Tour victory is a major, the 2025 Chevron Championship. This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. More: Mao Saigo's victory plunge at the LPGA Chevron turned scary because she can't swim How has Mao Saigo finished in previous U.S. Women's Opens? Mao Saigo has played in three U.S. Women's Opens with a top finish of T-33 in 2023 at Pebble Beach. What is Mao Saigo's best finish on the LPGA Tour in 2025? Mao Saigo won for the first time on the LPGA Tour in April in a five-way playoff at the Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas. What was Mao Saigo's score in the 2025 U.S. Women's Open second round? Mao Saigo, who started on the 10th tee early in the day, strung together birdies on 18 ,1 and 2 on her way to a 66, the best round of the tournament. She shot a 70 in the U.S. Women's Open first round May 29. When is Mao Saigo teeing off in third round of the 2025 U.S. Open? Saigo will tee off at 11:40 a.m. with a group that includes Nelly Korda and Hinako Shibuno.
The 42
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Saigo takes three-shot lead as Maguire misses cut at US Women's Open
MAO SAIGO TOOK aim at a second straight major title on Friday, firing a six-under-par 66 to grab a three-shot lead over a group including world number one Nelly Korda after two rounds of the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Japan's Saigo, who won a five-way playoff to lift her first major trophy at the Chevron Championship, shrugged off a spectacular piece of bad luck to build a 36-hole total of eight-under par at Erin Hills. Advertisement But she can expect a strong weekend challenge from Korda after the American posted her best round score ever at a US Open — five-under 67 — to headline a group of six players on five-under. Korda is tied with Japan's Hinako Shibuno, Americans Yealimi Noh and Sarah Schmelzel, South Korean Kim A-lim and Sweden's Maja Stark. The demanding Erin Hills layout claimed some notable victims, including Ireland's Leona Maguire who saw a bright start to her second round implode with a triple-bogey seven at the 11th hole. The Cavan golfer finished on four-over par, well outside the projected cut line on one-over when darkness halted play with a dozen players on the course. – © AFP 2025
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Chevron champ Saigo takes three-shot US Women's Open lead
CHICAGO: Mao Saigo took aim at a second straight major title on Friday, firing a six-under-par 66 to grab a three-shot lead over a group including top-ranked Nelly Korda after two rounds of the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Japan's Saigo, who won a five-way playoff to lift her first major trophy at the Chevron Championship, shrugged off a spectacular piece of bad luck to build a 36-hole total of 136 at Erin Hills. Korda posted a five-under-par 67 to headline a group of six players on 139. Saigo, 23, last year's LPGA Rookie of the Year, said her victory at the Chevron in April had given her new confidence but hadn't changed her fundamental approach. "I think that I was able to be more confident about my judgments that I make," she said. "However, I would like to play my play rather than thinking about changing myself." She teed off on 10 and gained ground quickly with birdies at 11 and 12, but needed all of her mental poise after disappointment at the par-five 14th, where her third shot hit the flagstick and bounced back into a bunker. Instead of a birdie she ended up with her only bogey of the day. "I thought that was not my mistake, I just thought to myself that it was unlucky and then I just changed my mind," added Saigo, who posted five more birdies, including three in a row at the 18th, first and second holes. Saigo can expect a strong weekend challenge from Korda after the American posted her best round score ever at a US Open, a tournament in which her best finish was a tie for eighth in 2022. "I feel like I've had a very complicated relationship with US Opens," Korda said. "But I'm happy to be in the position I am heading into the weekend." After just one birdie and one bogey in her even-par first round, Korda finally saw some putts drop in a five-under effort that featured seven birdies. "Honestly, I was hitting really good putts yesterday," Korda said. "I was hitting it exactly where I wanted to and they just weren't falling. "Today I did the same thing, I didn't really try to do anything different... so hopefully I can keep trending in the right direction heading into the weekend." Korda was tied with Japan's Hinako Shibuno, Americans Yealimi Noh and Sarah Schmelzel, South Korean Kim A-lim and Sweden's Maja Stark. Kim and Noh were among six players who shared the first-round lead, each carding a one-under 71. Kim, the 2020 US Open champion, shook off an early bogey to reach six-under with birdies at the seventh, eighth and 14th. She was playing the 17th when thunderstorms halted play for almost an hour, returning to complete her par before a disappointing bogey at 18 where she was in the rough off the tee then found a greenside bunker. Schmelzel had reached six-under with five birdies in her first seven holes, but gave a stroke back with a late bogey that left her with a 68. Former British Open champion Shibuno was six-under through 17 holes but bogeyed the last for a 69. Noh capped her one-under round with birdies at her last two holes, the eighth and ninth, while Stark had six birdies and three bogeys in her 69. The demanding Erin Hills layout claimed some notable victims.
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Lots of opportunities': Aussie golfers in US Open mix
Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend." Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend." Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend." Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend."
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Mao Saigo fires 66 for US Women's Open lead as she chases second major of year
Mao Saigo already won her first major title this year. She's putting herself in position for another at US Women's Open. Saigo shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take second-round lead at Erin Hills. At 8-under 136, the 23-year-old Japanese player had a three-stroke advantage over a group of six led by top-ranked Nelly Korda. If Saigo maintains this pace, she would finish at 16 under to match the score Brooks Koepka had in winning the US Open at Erin Hills in 2017. Koepka matched a US Open record. Saigo was asked whether 16 under might be within reach. 'It is very difficult to compare,' she said through an intepretor. 'All I can say is that I will do my best, and as a result, I would like to make a good result.' Saigo won Chevron Championship in a playoff outside Houston just over a month ago for her first LPGA Tour title. Korda, who has never finished higher than a tie for eighth in the US Women's Open, had a 67. That's the best round she's had in the event. 'I feel like I've had a very complicated relationship with US Opens,' Korda said, 'but I'm happy to be in the position I am heading into the weekend.' She was 5 under with Hinako Shibuno (69), Sarah Schmelzel (68), Maja Stark (69), Yealimi Noh (71) and 2020 U.S. Women's Open champion A Lim Kim (71). Jing Yan (69), Lin Grant (69), Chiara Tamburlini (71) and Jinhee Im (72) were 4 under. After not making a birdie until her 18th hole Thursday, Korda had seven of them Friday thanks to her improved putting. 'Honestly, I was hitting really good putts yesterday,' Korda said. 'I was hitting it exactly where I wanted to and they just weren't falling. It was one of those days. Today I did the same thing.' Kim was one of 18 competitors still on the course finishing their rounds when weather concerns halted play for about 54 minutes. Kim was alone in second place at 6 under and playing No 17 when the delay happened. The 29-year-old from South Korea said she waited out the delay in a car. Kim then returned to make par on No 17 before bogeying the par-5 18th to fall back into a tie for second. Kim said she still likes where she stands midway through the tournament. 'Really good position,' Kim said. 'I love to chase the leader, so let me see.' Saigo made sure everyone would be chasing her this weekend as she bounced back from some early misfortune. After starting out at No 10 and getting birdies on No 11 and No 12, Saigo bogeyed the par-5 No 14 when she got a bad break. Her third shot hit the flagstick, bounced backward and rolled all the way to a bunker. But she recovered by getting four birdies in a five-hole stretch from Nos 16-2. 'I thought that was not my mistake,' Saigo said. 'I just thought to myself that it was just unlucky, and then I just changed my mind.' Play was suspended due to darkness Friday night with 12 players unable to finish.
