The complex nature of golf lends itself to strange happenings.
That’s exactly what transpired on a crazy Saturday at the CME Group Tour Championship.
Through 36 holes, Sung Hyun Park looked like she’d make it a runaway.
Then golf happened.
Park, who was 12-under coming into the third round, found the going tough at Tiburon. She shot 75 and opened the door for at least 18 players going into Sunday’s finale.
At the end of the day, four players found themselves tied for the lead and one seems a longshot at best to enter the winner’s circle on Sunday.
Kim Kaufman shot 64 and it was an incredible round considering she’s been in bed the past two weeks after being diagnosed with mononucleosis when she was in Asia last month. On top of that, she took a tumble at home and hurt her wrist. All things considered, she’s a surprise in the group at 10-under.
Michelle Wie had the day’s second-best round. With a new putting stance and stroke, Wie is in contention for the first time in a long time. Same for Suzann Pettersen, who hasn’t won in two years. She shot 69 to join the lead group. The fourth member is a former world’s No. 1 — Ariya Jutanugarn. Her 67 got her to 10-under and with her resume, is a serious threat on Sunday.
Park’s rotten day also opened the door for Lexi Thompson to have a shot at winning the CME Globe points race. Thompson was six shots behind Park after 36 holes but after a 69 on Saturday, Thompson’s in the thick of it at nine-under par, tied with Park. They’re not the only ones at nine-under. Add Stacy Lewis, Karine Icher, Austin Ernst, Pernilla Lindberg and Jessica Korda to the list of players a shot off the lead.
There are another seven players at eight-under and it will be a mad scramble come Sunday afternoon.
One heck of a moving day.
