Tag: Classic

Davis Thompson qualifies for Open Championship after record-setting win at PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic | Golf News

Davis Thompson qualifies for Open Championship after record-setting win at PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic | Golf News
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Davis Thompson put in record-setting performance as he wrapped up victory at the John Deere Classic and secured a spot in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Thompson’s final total of 28 under par in Illinois eclipsed the previous tournament record of 27 under set by Michael Kim in 2017 and earned him a first PGA Tour title as well as a debut appearance in the British major from July 18-21.

The 25-year-old carded a seven-under 64 on Sunday to finish four strokes clear of CT Pan, Michael Thorbjornsen and amateur Luke Clanton, with Pan securing the second Open qualification spot by virtue of having the higher world ranking.

Image:
CT Pan will tee it up at the Open Championship for the first time since 2021

Thompson led fellow American Eric Cole and England’s Aaron Rai by two strokes heading into the final round and never looked in danger of being caught as he birdied five of his first six holes at TPC Deere Run and reached the turn in 29.

The Georgian – who came joint-second at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic after a ninth-placed finish at the US Open in June – saw his lead trimmed to three shots after he bogeyed 12 with Thorbjornsen making six birdies on the trot between eight and 13.

However, Thompson birdied 14 to effectively clinch victory with Thorbjornsen bogeying the same hole before picking up a birdie at 18 to end up alongside Pan and Clanton at 24 under.

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Thompson told CBS: “Qualifying for the Open was just an added incentive into this. The goal was to win the golf tournament after getting off to a great start and I was able to finish it off.”

Bizarrely, the winner of this tournament has stayed in the same rental house for three years running, with Thompson following in the footsteps of JT Poston in 2022 and last year’s winner Sepp Straka.

Clanton – who played the back nine in six under – became the first amateur to finish in the top 10 in back-to-back starts on the PGA Tour since 1958 having come 10th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

England’s Rai ended up tied for seventh at the John Deere Classic after a two-under 69, with compatriot Harry Hall a further stroke back in a tie for 12th after closing with a six-under 65 that featured eight birdies and a double bogey.

Watch the 152nd Open Championship, from Royal Troon, live on Sky Sports Golf from 6.30am on Thursday July 18.

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PGA Tour: Davis Thompson two ahead of Aaron Rai going into John Deere Classic final round | Golf News

PGA Tour: Davis Thompson two ahead of Aaron Rai going into John Deere Classic final round | Golf News
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American Davis Thompson fired nine birdies in a third-round 62 to take a two-shot lead into the final day of the John Deere Classic.

Soft conditions on the TPC Deere Run in Illinois continued to bring low scores, Thompson moving to 21 under par – two clear of England’s Aaron Rai and fellow American Eric Cole.

“I guess it was just my day today,” said Thompson, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory. “The guys behind me are playing really well.

Image:
Aaron Rai is two off the lead with 18 holes remaining

“I know it’s going to be tough to finish off a golf tournament, but I’ve done it before. I just have to stay present-minded.”

With the final day being played in threesomes with a delayed start in a bid to beat storms, Rai, co-leader after the second round, will play in the last group for the second successive week.

He had six birdies in a round of 66 as he bids to go one better than his second place at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week.

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Hayden Springer, who shot a 59 on the opening day, is a further two strokes back on 17 under par after a 66, alongside Taiwan’s CT Pan.

Rookie Michael Thorbjohnsen and amateur Luke Clanton are among those on 16 under par, while a third-round 70 saw England’s Harry Hall tumble down the leaderboard to seven shots adrift.

Watch the final round of the John Deere Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Sunday.

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PGA Tour: England’s Aaron Rai shares halfway lead at John Deere Classic with Harry Hall one back | Golf News

PGA Tour: England’s Aaron Rai shares halfway lead at John Deere Classic with Harry Hall one back | Golf News
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England’s Aaron Rai shares the lead at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic with countryman Harry Hall just a shot further back.

Rai – who topped the leaderboard going into the final round of last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic before eventually finishing in a tie for second behind Cameron Davis – shot a bogey-free, eight-under 63 in Illinois on Friday to rise to 14 under for the event.

CT Pan matched Rai’s efforts on the day – the Taiwanese player’s blemish-free round featured a 100-foot chip for eagle at the 14th – and he is locked with the Englishman at the head of the field.

Image:
England’s Harry Hall registered five birdies on a blemish-free Friday

The pair are one stroke clear of Hall, who shot a five-under 66, and two better off than a group of six players on 12 under, including Hayden Springer and Sungjae Im.

Springer carded a 59 in his opening round but had to settle for an even-par 71 a day later as he missed a three-foot par putt and also carded a double-bogey late on at TPC Deere Run.

He said: “It wasn’t too bad. It was a little windier today, probably played a little tougher.

“I kind of hit some bumps on the back nine but more just mental errors and not making those short putts than anything else.”

The best of Hayden Springer’s first round at the John Deere Classic, as the American shot only the 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history

Rai continues fine form

Rai, Hall and Springer are each looking to land their first PGA Tour titles, although Rai has won twice on the DP World Tour, including at the 2020 Scottish Open when he beat Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off.

Rai said: “I’ve been playing well tee-to-green for large parts of this season and that’s kind of continued over the last few weeks.

England's Aaron Rai during round two of 2024 John Deere Classic (Getty Images)
Image:
England’s Aaron Rai shot an eight-under 68 in the second round of the John Deere Classic

“A couple of weeks ago I spent quite a while on the green. My dad gave me a couple of tips.

“I’ve started working with John Graham as well, a putting coach who is based out here. Putting all that together has definitely translated onto the course.”

C.T. Pan, PGA Tour Golf (Associated Press)
Image:
CT Pan’s sole victory on the PGA Tour to date came at the 2019 RBC Heritage when he beat Matt Kuchar by one stroke

Two-time John Deere Classic champion Jordan Spieth notched two late birdies to make the cut with a four-under 67 but is eight shots adrift heading into the weekend at six under par.

The 2013 and 2015 winner said: “We had yesterday morning with no wind and a chance to really take advantage.

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“I had 18 holes of a couple under yesterday, and unless you’re absolutely perfect from there, there is not much of a chance of winning.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t go out and try and shoot 10 under the next day.”

Watch the third round of the John Deere Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Saturday. Coverage of the final round then begins at 5pm on Sunday.

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PGA Tour: Hayden Springer shoots historic 59 at John Deere Classic | Golf News

PGA Tour: Hayden Springer shoots historic 59 at John Deere Classic | Golf News
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Hayden Springer has become the 14th player to record a sub-60 round on the PGA Tour after shooting a 12-under 59 in the first round of the John Deere Classic.

Springer carded eight birdies and two eagles, holing from just outside 12 feet on the final green for the last of his birdies to break the 60 barrier.

The 27-year-old American fired an eight under 27 on the front nine at TPC Deere Run, the lowest nine-hole score on Tour since 2000, then went quiet for several holes. He was nine under thru 16 holes when he holed out from the rough for eagle at the par-five 17th.

That put him one birdie away from the elusive 59. He found the centre of the 18th fairway, put his second shot about 12 feet from the pin and drained the putt.

His feat comes less than two weeks after Cam Young shot 59 at the Travelers Championship which was the first 59 since 2020. Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship and he has also carded a 59, along with Scottie Scheffler, Kevin Chappell, Brandt Snedeker, Adam Hadwin, Justin Thomas, Stuart Appleby, Paul Goydos, David Duval, Chip Beck, and Al Geiberger.

“I am feeling good. I am kind of at a loss for words in terms of being able to do that,” said Springer after signing his card.

“It is one of those rare things in golf, so to have that opportunity and pull it off is pretty special.

Springer struggled to contain his emotion after shooting a historic 59 in round one at the John Deere Classic

“It is special to be able to do that. I played well last week but it has been a little bit tough to find anything and get stuff going and go low.

“It is special. It feels good to be standing here and to have had a good round of golf.

“I didn’t actually think I could make that shot [on 17] but I did and that kind of changed the momentum.”

Hayden Springer of the United States reacts after a birdie putt on the 18th hole for a score of 59 in the first round of the John Deere Classic
Image:
Springer celebrates after holing his birdie putt on the 18th hole for a score of 59

Springer had missed seven of his last nine cuts but did finish 10th at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.

He is ranked 236th in the world and has never won on the PGA Tour. He turned pro in 2019 but, after losing his card, he earned his way back on tour via Q-school last December.


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Friday 5th July 5:00pm


Watch the John Deere Classic throughout this week live on Sky Sports, with Friday’s action from 5om on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and more with NOW.

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PGA Tour: Cam Davis wins Rocket Mortgage Classic after late three-putt from Akshay Bhatia in Detroit | Golf News

PGA Tour: Cam Davis wins Rocket Mortgage Classic after late three-putt from Akshay Bhatia in Detroit | Golf News
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Australia’s Cam Davis won the Rocket Mortgage Classic for the second time in
four years following a last-hole blunder from Akshay Bhatia.

Bhatia had a birdie putt from 32 feet on the 18th to win his third PGA Tour title but left it four feet short and also missed the par attempt.

That gifted the win to Davis, whose closing 70 had set a clubhouse target of 18 under which none of the other contenders were able to match at Detroit Golf Club.

Fellow Australian Min Woo Lee had birdied the 14th, 15th and 17th to claim a share of the lead only to bogey the last, while American Davis Thompson birdied the same holes to reach 17 under but left a birdie attempt on 18 short.

England’s Aaron Rai was part of the four-way tie for second after following a birdie on the 14th with four straight pars in a closing 72.

“From where I was a couple of weeks ago to today, it’s just completely different. I’m a little emotional actually,” Davis told CBS.

“I wouldn’t wish what happened to Akshay on anyone but I’ve done a lot of grinding to try and get myself out of a hole and to just all of a sudden do that, it’s pretty good.

Image:
Cam Davis won the Rocket Mortgage Classic for a second time

“I’ve got so many people behind me that have helped me along the way. I had a lot of support to kind of get me out of the doldrums there. I saw a little bit of a spark last week but nothing to show this coming so this is great.”

Asked about the three-putt on the 18th, a disappointed Bhatia said: “That green’s old school, so a lot of slope, downhill left to right. It’s a tricky putt just to get the speed correct and I did such a good job all day of my speed being really good until that last hole.

Akshay Bhatia reacts to missing a par putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament at Detroit Country Club, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Image:
Akshay Bhatia narrowly missed out on Rocket Mortgage Classic victory

“I hit a good putt, I probably just under-read it a little bit or it lacked a little bit of speed so nothing I can do about it.”

Rai, who had shared the lead with Bhatia after 54 holes, said: “Overall a good week. Obviously being in the position that we were in today, there was a great chance to maybe do a little bit more.

Aaron Rai
Image:
Aaron Rai mixed three birdies with three bogeys in his final round

“Got off to a really good start today, just a few too many loose shots and just didn’t really keep the round going as well as what I could have and as well as the last three days. That part was a little bit disappointing for sure, but so many positives to take. Yeah, really pleased with how my game feels overall.”

Cameron Young bogeyed two of his last three holes to finish three strokes back in tied-sixth alongside Eric Cole, Erik Van Rooyen and Rico Hoey.


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Thursday 4th July 7:30pm


What’s next?

The PGA Tour heads to Illinois next for the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, where Austria’s Sepp Straka is defending champion. Early coverage begins on Thursday from 3.30pm via the red button and 7.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 9pm.

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PGA Tour: Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai keep lead at tight Rocket Mortgage Classic | Golf News

PGA Tour: Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai keep lead at tight Rocket Mortgage Classic | Golf News
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Akshay Bhatia and England’s Aaron Rai shot four-under-par 68s to remain co-leaders through the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Saturday in Detroit.

American Bhatia and Rai began the round sharing the lead, but the overall leaderboard has tightened. Rai had five birdies and a bogey, while Bahatia navigated his third consecutive round without a bogey.

They are both at 17-under 199 going into Sunday’s final round.

Cameron Young (67), who birdied three of his last five holes, and Australia’s Cam Davis (66), who had birdies on three of his first four holes and completed a bogey-free round, are one shot back at 16 under.

Sam Stevens (66), who birdied the final two holes, and South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen (68), who did not register a bogey, are at 15 under.

Amateur Luke Clanton (65), Joel Dahmen (68) and Australia’s Min Woo Lee (66) are tied for seventh at 14 under. Clanton climbed to a share of second place by the time he finished his third round before others took advantage of scoring chances in the early evening.

“It’s my first PGA Tour event and to be in contention where I’m at right now is awesome,” Clanton said.

Clanton, a 20-year-old Florida State golfer, played earlier in the month in the US Open, making the cut and tying for 41st place. On Saturday, he eagled the par-five 14th hole, just two holes after his only bogey of the round.

Defending champion Rickie Fowler shot 67 and moved to 11 under. The start of the third round had a significant delay and tee times were revised, with golfers using the first and 10th tees as starting spots.

Will Zalatoris, citing a back injury, withdrew during the third round. He was seven under through the first two rounds. but three over through eight holes on Saturday before ending his round.

Watch the final round of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 4.30pm on Sunday. Stream the PGA Tour, majors and more, without a contract, with NOW.

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Birmingham Classic: Katie Boulter retires after one set as Harriet Dart picks up victory | Tennis News

Birmingham Classic: Katie Boulter retires after one set as Harriet Dart picks up victory | Tennis News
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Katie Boulter had to retire from the Birmingham Classic, after Anhelina Kalinina took their first set 6-3.

The match was taking place just two days after No 4 seed Boulter had clinched back-to-back titles in Nottingham with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Karolina Pliskova.

Boulter had won an all-British contest against Emma Raducanu in the semi-finals in three sets, 6-7 6-3 6-4. She had been a set down when play was suspended on Saturday evening before continuing on Sunday.

“I’m fine,” said a hoarse Boulter, who has been battling a cold for the last week.

“Obviously a long 10 days. I wanted to come up here anyway, I wanted to try, but I’m just not quite ready yet. I was quite sick during Nottingham but I just tried to stay in the tournament as long as I possibly could, as bad as I was feeling.

“From my third match I was really struggling. But I just tried to get through it and finish the week. It’s probably a little bit of a combination of everything.”

Harriet Dart is through to the second round after a comfortable 6-3 6-3 win over qualifier Moyuka Uchijima but wildcard Heather Watson suffered a 3-6 6-4 7-5 loss to Marie Bouzkova in Birmingham.

In a match which lasted just under three hours, Bouzkova battled back from 5-2 down in the deciding set to clinch victory.

Elsewhere, World No 8 Zheng Qinwen secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Berlin Open.

Highlights of the game between Naomi Osaka and Qinwen Zheng in Rome

Zheng hit 23 aces during the encounter which is the most hit so far in a WTA Tour match this season.

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LPGA Tour: Lilia Vu beats Lexi Thompson, Grace Kim to win Meijer LPGA Classic ahead of KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | Golf News

LPGA Tour: Lilia Vu beats Lexi Thompson, Grace Kim to win Meijer LPGA Classic ahead of KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | Golf News
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Lilia Vu claimed her first LPGA Tour victory of the season after defeating Lexi Thompson and Grace Kim in a play-off at the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Vu overturned an eight-shot deficit during a thrilling final day at Blythefield Country Club, carding a bogey-free 65 to finish on 16 under alongside Kim – who squandered a five-shot overnight lead – and Thompson.

The trio all birdied the par-five 18th in both the first two extra play-off holes, before Vu carded a winning birdie at the third extra play-off hole – as Thompson and Kim could only make par – to claim her fifth LPGA Tour title and first of the year.

Image:
Lexi Thompson congratulated Lilia Vu after her play-off victory

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Vu said. “I couldn’t believe I won this week. I think I was setting my bar really low so that I could meet it. I think because I tend to get in my own way when I’m trying to win, that’s when I don’t win most of the time, so just trying to stay in my lane, take advantage of all the good shots, and make all the birdie putts that I get.”

Vu’s comeback was one shot larger than last week’s seven-shot deficit overturned by Linnea Strom of Sweden at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, with four birdies over the final six holes helping her post the low round of the day.

Thompson birdied the 18th to card a four-under 68 and tie Vu, while Kim made one birdie and eight pars during the back nine of her final-round 73 and failed to hold on to her sizeable overnight advantage.

Vu won four times in 2023 and will be among the favourites for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, live on Sky Sports, having missed last month’s US Women’s Open while fighting a back injury.

Highlights from the final round of the 2023 AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath, where Lilia Vu claimed her second major title of the season.

“It’s hard to feel 100 per cent, but I think I’ve been 95 per cent and I think, obviously, I played more than 18 holes today, so kind of feeling a little tight,” Vu said. “It’s all good. It’s not the same as before.”

Thompson, the 11-time LPGA Tour winner who announced last month that she will retire from full-time competition at the end of the season, came up just short of ending her five-year title drought.


Live Women's PGA Championship


Thursday 20th June 11:00pm


“Knowing I was five shots behind starting the day, I knew I had to have the pedal down and make a lot of birdies from the jump,” Thompson said. “I can only control what I can control, so I just tried to focus one shot at a time and play within myself and my emotions. That’s all I could do. Whatever happens with the result happened, so happy with the result.”

Ally Ewing had a string of four straight birdies on her front nine and briefly touched 17 under for the tournament, but a bogey-bogey-birdie finish left her in fourth spot. Allisen Corpuz and South Korea’s Narin An both carded final-round 70s to share fifth.

What’s next?

The women’s major season continues at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, held at Sahalee Country Club in Washington and all four rounds live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 9pm via the red button and 11pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the LPGA, majors and more with NOW.

LPGA Classic: Grace Kim breaks away for five-shot lead after four birdies in final six holes | Golf News

LPGA Classic: Grace Kim breaks away for five-shot lead after four birdies in final six holes | Golf News
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Grace Kim broke away on Saturday at Blythefield Country Club, birdieing four of the final six holes to take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Tied for the second-round lead with Ally Ewing, Kim shot a six-under 66 to get to 17 under. The 23-year-old Australian won in a play-off last year in Hawaii for her lone LPGA Tour title. She lost a large lead in April in Los Angeles at the JM Eagle LA Championship.

“Giving myself another chance to do it again and actually get it done,” Kim said. “I know I’m going to try my best for tomorrow and everyone else will. This golf course calls for lot of birdies and there are a lot of good players out here. “

Ewing followed her second-round 63 with a 71 to drop into a tie for second with Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist, Allisen Corpuz and Narin An.

“It was a little bit of a scramble today,” Ewing said. “I made some really good putts to just kind of hang in early.”

Thompson, the 2015 winner who has said this will be her last year playing a full schedule, played the final six holes on the front nine in seven under in a 65. She has gone more than five years without winning.

“Just kind of got into a groove,” Thompson said. “This is a golf course [where] you have to come out and play aggressive and make lots of birdies. Just came out feeling very comfortable, made a few good swings, and rolled in some putts.”

Nordqvist also shot 65. Corpuz had a 68, and An shot 69.

Kim had three straight birdies on the front nine on holes five to seven, dropped a stroke on the par-five 10th, then made the late charge with birdies on on the par-three 13th, par-five 14th, par-four 16th and par-five 18th.

“I finished pretty strong so hopefully I can just keep that going,” Kim said. “Have a good night meal. Watched a movie yesterday. That’s probably helped a little bit as well. Maybe do that again tonight and see. Fresh for tomorrow.”

Lilia Vu, a former No 1 player and double major winner last year, was tied for 14th at nine under in her return from a back injury that sidelined her since the Ford Championship in late March. She shot 68.

Brooke Henderson, the Canadian who won the event in 2017 and 2019, shot a 73 to drop into a tie for 24th at seven under. Defending champion Leona Maguire of Ireland was tied for 57th at three under after a 72.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda left Friday after missing her second straight cut following a stretch of six victories in seven events. She won at Blythefield in 2021 at a tournament-record 25 under.

The major KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is next week at Sahalee outside Seattle, live on Sky Sports.

Who will win the third men’s major of the year? Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the final round begins on Sunday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the US Open and more with NOW.

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LPGA Classic: Nelly Korda misses cut by a shot with Ally Ewing and Grace Kim tied for lead | Golf News

LPGA Classic: Nelly Korda misses cut by a shot with Ally Ewing and Grace Kim tied for lead | Golf News
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Ally Ewing shot a scorching, nine-under 63 to move into a tie with Australia’s Grace Kim for the lead at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, as world No 1 Nelly Korda missed the cut.

Ewing and Kim stand at 11 under after two trips around Blythefield Country Club after Kim posted a 65 on Friday. They are two shots ahead of Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64 Friday) and South Korea’s Narin An (68).

Korda couldn’t recover from an opening-round 76. She shot a second round five-under 67 but missed the cut line of two under by a single stroke, missing her second straight cut after winning six of seven events.

“I’m very pleased with the way that I struck the ball today off the tee, something I’ve been struggling with this year,” Korda said. “This was by far the best I’ve hit it off the tee, so a little bit of positivity.

Ewing’s bogey-free round began with three birdies over her first five holes, and she chipped in for eagle at the par-five eighth hole. She sank four more birdies coming home, including a short putt at the par-three 11th after an excellent tee shot.

“I think you can make a lot of birdies out here,” Ewing said. “At the same time, I approach a golf course with what it gives me, so I try to play smart but aggressive golf.”

The 31-year-old, who has three LPGA wins to her name, found her form again after tying for third at the US Women’s Open two weeks ago.

“Yeah, I think any time you get a good finish in any tournament, much less a major, you just see good golf for four days, definitely helps your confidence when you carry it over,” Ewing said. “The golf ball doesn’t know what I did last week, but it’s still important to attack it but also have confidence with it.”

Kim started her round on the back nine and also piled up three birdies over her first five. After bogeying the 17th, she bounced back with an eagle at the par-five 18th. She added a final bang with three straight birdies from the sixth to eighth holes.

Kim said the conditions changed drastically for her after playing Thursday’s round in heavy wind.

“I think I was the second-lowest scorer of the day [Thursday] in the afternoon, and, yeah that says a lot of how tough the conditions were,” Kim said. “But to be able to pull through and make a few more birdies, back-to-back birdies to finish my round, yeah, very much topped it off.”

Brooke Henderson of Canada, a two-time winner of this event, shot 69 Friday and is part of a tie for fifth at eight under with Lauren Hartlage (69), Allison Corpuz (68), South Korea’s Jin Hee Im (65) and China’s Jing Yan (68).

Who will win the third men’s major of the year? Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the third round begins on Saturday from 3pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the US Open and more with NOW.

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