Shibuno passes big test and hangs on to lead in Women's Open
Hinako Shibuno, of Japan, fist bumbs fellow players after her round of golf during the third round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Houston. Nothing about this U.S. Women's Open felt normal until Saturday. That's when it became a grind that for so many years has defined this biggest event in women's golf. The others were In Gee Chun (2015 U.S. Women's Open and 2016 Evian Championship and Se Ri Pak, who won the LPGA Championship and U.S. Women's Open in 1998. Shibuno won the Women's British Open last year at Woburn, and declined to take up LPGA membership because she didn't think she was ready.
No longer a surprise, Shibuno leads by 3 at US Women's Open
Hinako Shibuno, of Japan, smiles after putting on the 17th green during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament in Houston, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. That was bright as ever Friday as the Japanese star posted a 4-under 67 and opened a three-shot lead going into the weekend of the U.S. Women's Open. She looked the part of a major champion at the U.S. Women's Open, where the forecast of rain and strong wind never quite materialized. The USGA used two courses for the first time because the pandemic forced the Women's Open to be postponed six months to December with limited daylight. Kerr played bogey-free at Jackrabbit and shot 69, and the 43-year-old former Open champion says the injury at least has tempered her expectation.
Olson comes up aces and takes 1-shot lead in Women's Open
Amy Olson watches her shot off the third tee during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament in Houston, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. For the first time, two courses are being used for the opening rounds because of the limited daylight by postponing the premier event in women's golf to December. She figured it would be a long shot to be in the U.S. Women's Open this year when the USGA had to scrap qualifying because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And then when golf resumed, Popov earned a spot in the Women's British Open and won at Royal Troon. And now she's already in the mix at the U.S. Women's Open, along with so many others.