This 75th playing of the Women’s U.S. Open will have to wait for its grand finale.
A huge mass of thunderstorms hit the Houston area Sunday morning and with just a few groups getting out early, the horn sounded around 9:10 Central Time suspending play.
That suspension would later turn into a wash-out as the USGA made the decision to go to a Monday finish for this final major championship of 2020.
It was fitting — it’s been that sort of season for every professional sport although golf has managed pretty well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The USGA basically had no choice. Rain saturated the course on Friday night and players spent much of the third round complaining about mud balls as the USGA would not allow the field to play “lift-clean-and-place” or preferred lies if you will.
Houston resident and major champion Stacy Lewis wasn’t happy with the conditions for the third round. “We get on network TV, we get on this big stage — there’s no other golf events going on — you want us to look good on TV more than anything,” Lewis said. “Either they need to play the ball up or they need to adjust their setup. Mud balls combined with the way they set the golf course up today set us up for long rounds and bad golf.”
American Sarah Schmelzel was in contention after shooting 71-69 for her first 36-holes but in the wet conditions on Saturday, she soared to a five-over par 76 that dropped her back into a tie for 19th. She also didn’t like the degree of difficulty in the USGA’s third round setup. “I think women’s golf deserves to be highlighted a little bit better than that,” Schmelzel said. “We want to see good shots on TV. We want our coverage to be fun for viewers. From my experience, and the experience of the girls in my group, it might not have been the most fair.”
When play resumes Monday morning, the field will be chasing 54-hole leader Hinako Shibuno. She survived the high scoring on Saturday, posted 74 and is four-under par, a shot in front of American hopeful Amy Olson. Olson shot an even par 71, she’s three-under and trying to make this major championship her first-ever win.
Olson received tragic news Saturday night before Sunday’s round was rained out. Olson’s father-in-law, Lee Olson, died suddenly and unexpectedly.
Olson’s husband, Grant, who played football at the couple’s alma mater, North Dakota State, where he currently is the linebackers coach, had traveled to Champions Golf Club on Friday. He returned to North Dakota Sunday night to be with his mother and brother.
Moriya Jutanugarn will start at one-under along with Ji Yeong Kim2 — Kim was the only player to break 70 on Saturday with a four-under par 67 that moved her up 42 places on the scoreboard.
Monday’s weather is expected to be very chilly as well. The Sunday storm brought a cold front to the Houston area and temperatures at The Champions are expected to reach only the low 50s.
