As hard as it tried not even Fox Sports could ruin the exciting finish of the 2018 Women’s U.S. Open at Shoal Creek.
The ladies are outside Chicago this week for their third major of the season — the Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes.
Nice course, great field, even better news — no Fox Sports.
At Shoal Creek it was the blathering Joe Buck and sometimes clueless Paul Azinger basically writing an on-air obituary for Ariya Jutanugarn. In an amazing turn of events, she blew a seven-shot lead over her final nine holes but went on to beat Hyo-Joo Kim in the USGA’s first two-hole then sudden-death playoff. Took four holes but Jutanugarn showed amazing grit and determination.
She has to be one of the players to watch this week.
Pernilla Lindberg came out of nowhere to win the ANA, proving flukes do happen. It was her first-ever win on the tour.
All the usual suspects are on hand and Danielle Kang is the defending champion.
Lexi Thompson comes in as the highest-ranked American player. She’s fallen from second to third, pushed there by Ariya’s U.S. Open win — Inbee Park is still No. 1.
Once again, Thompson’s putter has reared its ugly head. That cruel instrument has kept her winless this season and she’s stalled in single-figures in the win column with nine.
China’s Shanshan Feng is No. 4 behind Thompson with So Yeon Ryu No. 5. Ryu won two week ago in Michigan.
American Austin Ernst is trending in the right direction after finishing solo second last week in Arkansas to Japanese rookie Nata Hataoka.
Thompson, despite non-cooperation from her putter, finished tied for third with fellow Americans Ryan O’Toole, Ally McDonald and Brittany Altomare.
Predicting winners is tough at best when it comes to golf but if there’s one player who might be flying under the radar this week it is Inbee Park.
And it’s tough to be under the radar when you’re the world’s No. 1.
