Thompson Leads Saso By One Entering Final Round at Olympic

Lexi Thompson has seemingly been playing U.S. Women’s Opens longer than cypress trees have framed the holes at The Olympic Club. At age 26, this is her 15th consecutive appearance since first qualifying in 2007 as a precocious 12-year-old. Yet for all that experience, the Floridian had never owned a share of the lead after any Women’s Open round.

Until now.

Thompson posted her career-best round in this championship, a bogey-free, 5-under-par 66 on a picture-perfect Saturday for a 54-hole total of 7-under 206, one better than 36-hole leader Yuka Saso, who bogeyed her final hole to settle for an even-par 71 on the 6,338-yard Lake Course.

Megha Ganne, the 17-year-old amateur from Holmdel, N.J., is four back along with 2019 champion Jeongeun Lee6 after the two carded rounds of 72 and 73, respectively. Shanshan Feng (2-under 211), Nasa Hataoka (212) and Megan Khang (212) are the only other competitors in red figures at a venue that has produced just four under-par scores over 72 holes in the five U.S. Opens that have been contested here.

Thompson, an 11-time LPGA Tour champion who has not entered the winner’s circle since the 2019 ShopRite Classic, now seeks to top the leader board come Sunday afternoon. Should the one-time major champion (2014 ANA Inspiration) pull it off, she would become the sixth player to capture both the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Girls’ Junior titles, joining a stellar group that includes World Golf Hall of Famers Mickey Wright, Hollis Stacy, Amy Alcott and Inbee Park, as well as Ariya Jutanugarn.

To do that, Thompson will need to continue the ball-striking prowess she displayed on Saturday, when she hit 13 of 18 greens and needed only 27 putts. Thompson went out in 3-under 32 with birdies on Nos. 4, 7 and 9, drained a 21-footer on the 415-yard, par-4 14th hole and just missed a 9-footer for eagle on the uphill, 490-yard, par-5 17th. She closed with a tidy up-and-down par from greenside rough.

“It's tough,” said Thompson of the conditions. “The rough is super thick. They say that there's a first cut, but the first cut is about 4 inches. [But] that's how major championships should be. I played solid today and I'm just going to try to take it into tomorrow and just focus on one shot at a time.”

Thompson credits the recent work she’s done with mental coach John Denney for staying positive when adversity arises. Being happier on and off the course produces better results, and although she hasn’t won in 2021, she has tied for second twice.

“It helps just to have that experience,” said Thompson, whose four top-10 U.S. Women’s Open finishes include a tie for second two years ago at the Country Club of Charleston and a T-5 in 2018 at Shoal Creek. “For me, it's no different mindset going into tomorrow. I've been working extremely hard on my game and the mental side.

“It’s definitely a little bit more intense than any other tournament on a Sunday. But like I said before, I love playing in front of the fans and everything.”

Saso also will be playing for history on Sunday, vying to match Inbee Park as the youngest champion at 19 years, 11 months, 17 days. She would also become the first player from the Philippines to win this championship and the second from her nation to capture a USGA title, joining 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Princess Mary Superal.

Saso fought her control on Saturday, especially with her wedges, hitting just 10 greens. But she briefly reached 8 under for the championship before consecutive bogeys on 13 and 14, followed by one on 18 that dropped her out of the lead she held virtually all day.

“I wasn't really thinking about anything,” said Saso of playing in the final pairing. “I just [did] the same as what I did the first couple days and … I think it worked pretty good.”

What’s Next

Players will be grouped in threes for Sunday’s final round, which will stream on Peacock from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT and then on NBC from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The uninterrupted coverage is presented by Rolex. The final grouping of Saso, Thompson and Ganne goes off the first tee at 10:35 a.m. PDT

Notable

A total of 15 USGA champions survived the 36-hole cut, including six U.S. Women’s Open winners (two-time champion Inbee Park, Jeongeun Lee6, Ariya Jutanugarn, In Gee Chun, So Yeon Ryu and Na Yeon Choi). 

Angel Yin’s week at The Olympic Club has mirrored a San Francisco street: up, down and back up again. Yin has posted rounds of 68-79-67, the latter moving her up 38 spots, from a tie for 47th to a share of ninth. The 67 was Saturday’s second-best round. Brooke Henderson has taken a similar path, shooting 68-78-69 to vault from T-36 to a tie for 12th. 

Besides the USA, 18 other countries are represented among the players to make the cut. That list: Australia, Canada, the People’s Republic of China, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Thailand. 

New Jersey amateur Megha Ganne, 17, is the youngest to play the weekend while Lee-Anne Pace, 40, of South Africa, is the oldest. 

Two tees were significantly moved up for Saturday’s third round. The uphill, par-4 seventh measured 229 yards and the par-3 15th played 99 yards. 

The four toughest holes this week are on Olympic’s front nine. Ganne, the precocious 17-year-old New Jersey amateur, has been nearly flawless on that section of the Lake Course, going 23 consecutive holes without a bogey or worse before registering a 5 on the par-4 sixth on Saturday, the last competitor in the field to sustain an outward-nine blemish.

Quotable

“I got to play with a lot of amateurs in my practice rounds here and it's amazing because I knew that experience. My first one was at 12. So it's just great to see the games and just the confidence that they have and the talent that they have as well. But words of advice … take everything as a learning experience, whether [you] missed the cut or made it. Learn from the players that you got paired up with and just really embrace the experience, the fans, and if this is what you want to do.” – Lexi Thompson on advice she gives to amateurs, four of whom made the 36-hole cut this week

“I was just very fortunate to play well. Maybe it's because of how bad I played yesterday (laughter). God felt bad for me.” – Angel Yin after bouncing back from a second-round 79 with a 67, the day’s second-low round

“Kathryn and I go way back to junior golf, so it was nice to see her out here. I think we were like 12 or 13, so ever since then I watched her flourish in her career. We ran into each other earlier this year in LA and were going to do dinner, but with the LPGA [pandemic] rules we weren't able to.” – Megan Khang on seeing actress Kathryn Newton on Saturday

“I feel like I don't know how many fairways I hit today, but not many, and I haven't hit that many greens, either. So I feel like I have a lot more to give. I'm very excited about tomorrow. I want some revenge.” – Swedish amateur Maja Stark after her 1-over 73 gave her a share of ninth through 54 holes

“Just really a tough day. Trying to scramble around this golf course is not easy.” – Inbee Park after a 2-over 73, which puts her in solo eighth at even-par 213

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Results from Saturday's third round of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, played at 6,338-yard, par-71 The Olympic Club (Lake Course).

POS, NAME, SCORES-TOTAL, STATUS

1, Lexi Thompson,69-71-66-206,-7

2, Yuka Saso,69-67-71-207,-6

T3, Megha Ganne (a),67-71-72-210,-3

T3, Jeongeun Lee6,70-67-73-210,-3

5, Shanshan Feng,69-70-72-211,-2

T6, Nasa Hataoka,72-69-71-212,-1

T6, Megan Khang,68-70-74-212,-1

8, Inbee Park,71-69-73-213,E

T9, Angel Yin,68-79-67-214,+1

T9, Hyojoo Kim,72-70-72-214,+1

T9, Maja Stark (a),71-70-73-214,+1

T12, Brooke Henderson,68-78-69-215,+2

T12, Amy Olson,73-72-70-215,+2

T12, Lucy Li,73-71-71-215,+2

T12, Ariya Jutanugarn,71-70-74-215,+2

T16, Celine Herbin,73-74-69-216,+3

T16, Celine Boutier,72-74-70-216,+3

T16, Jin Young Ko,70-74-72-216,+3

T16, Marina Alex,70-72-74-216,+3

T20, So Yeon Ryu,74-72-71-217,+4

T20, Sei Young Kim,74-70-73-217,+4

T20, Alison Lee,74-70-73-217,+4

T23, Maria Parra,72-74-72-218,+5

T23, Xiyu Lin,72-74-72-218,+5

T23, Emily Kristine Pedersen,71-74-73-218,+5

T23, Matilda Castren,74-71-73-218,+5

T23, In-Kyung Kim,74-70-74-218,+5

T23, Jennifer Kupcho,70-73-75-218,+5

T23, Mel Reid,67-73-78-218,+5

T30, Luna Sobron Galmes,71-76-72-219,+6

T30, Madelene Sagstrom,71-73-75-219,+6

T30, Danielle Kang,73-69-77-219,+6

T33, Muni He,72-76-72-220,+7

T33, Jessica Korda,72-74-74-220,+7

T33, Ally Ewing,71-74-75-220,+7

T33, In Gee Chun,75-70-75-220,+7

T33, Patty Tavatanakit,75-70-75-220,+7

T33, Mina Harigae,71-73-76-220,+7

T33, Sarah Burnham,76-66-78-220,+7

T40, Leonie Harm,73-75-73-221,+8

T40, Lizette Salas,72-75-74-221,+8

T40, Amy Yang,74-73-74-221,+8

T40, Na Yeon Choi,75-72-74-221,+8

T40, Ayako Uehara,76-71-74-221,+8

T40, Jasmine Suwannapura,73-74-74-221,+8

T40, Lauren Stephenson,70-76-75-221,+8

T40, Yealimi Noh,76-69-76-221,+8

T40, Wichanee Meechai,70-73-78-221,+8

T49, Rachel Heck (a),75-72-75-222,+9

T49, Pajaree Anannarukarn,76-71-75-222,+9

T49, Lydia Ko,71-75-76-222,+9

T49, Jenny Coleman,73-73-76-222,+9

T49, Gaby Lopez,72-73-77-222,+9

T49, Stacy Lewis,72-72-78-222,+9

T55, Brittany Altomare,74-74-75-223,+10

T55, Jenny Shin,72-75-76-223,+10

T55, Minjee Lee,73-73-77-223,+10

T58, Giulia Molinaro,74-74-76-224,+11

T58, Anna Nordqvist,75-73-76-224,+11

T58, Pernilla Lindberg,76-72-76-224,+11

T58, Lee-Anne Pace,76-71-77-224,+11

T58, Yu Liu,74-72-78-224,+11

T58, Gurleen Kaur (a),71-73-80-224,+11

T64, Carlota Ciganda,72-76-77-225,+12

T64, Austin Ernst,70-74-81-225,+12

66, Hannah Green,73-75-78-226,+13

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Pairings and tee times for Sunday's final round of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, played at 6,338-yard, par-71 The Olympic Club (Lake Course).

All Times PDT

1st Tee

08:35 a.m. -- Muni He, People's Republic of China , 72-76-72  220, +7; Danielle Kang, Las Vegas, Nev. , 73-69-77  219, +6; Madelene Sagstrom, Sweden , 71-73-75  219, +6

08:47 a.m. -- Luna Sobron Galmes, Spain , 71-76-72  219, +6; Mel Reid, England , 67-73-78  218, +5; Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo. , 70-73-75  218, +5

08:59 a.m. -- In-Kyung Kim, Republic of Korea , 74-70-74  218, +5; Matilda Castren, Finland , 74-71-73  218, +5; Emily Kristine Pedersen, Denmark , 71-74-73  218, +5

09:11 a.m. -- Xiyu Lin, People's Republic of China , 72-74-72  218, +5; Maria Parra, Spain , 72-74-72  218, +5; Alison Lee, Las Vegas, Nev. , 74-70-73  217, +4

09:23 a.m. -- Sei Young Kim, Republic of Korea , 74-70-73  217, +4; So Yeon Ryu, Republic of Korea , 74-72-71  217, +4; Marina Alex, Wayne, N.J. , 70-72-74  216, +3

09:35 a.m. -- Jin Young Ko, Republic of Korea , 70-74-72  216, +3; Celine Boutier, France , 72-74-70  216, +3; Celine Herbin, France , 73-74-69  216, +3

09:47 a.m. -- Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand , 71-70-74  215, +2; Lucy Li, Redwood Shores, Calif. , 73-71-71  215, +2; Amy Olson, Fargo, N.D. , 73-72-70  215, +2

09:59 a.m. -- Brooke Henderson, Canada , 68-78-69  215, +2; Maja Stark (a), Sweden , 71-70-73  214, +1; Hyojoo Kim, Republic of Korea , 72-70-72  214, +1

10:11 a.m. -- Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. , 68-79-67  214, +1; Inbee Park, Republic of Korea , 71-69-73  213, E; Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. , 68-70-74  212, -1

10:23 a.m. -- Nasa Hataoka, Japan , 72-69-71  212, -1; Shanshan Feng, People's Republic of China , 69-70-72  211, -2; Jeongeun Lee6, Republic of Korea , 70-67-73  210, -3

10:35 a.m. -- Megha Ganne (a), Holmdel, N.J. , 67-71-72  210, -3; Yuka Saso, Philippines , 69-67-71  207, -6; Lexi Thompson, Delray Beach, Fla. , 69-71-66  206, -7

9th Tee

08:20 a.m. -- In Gee Chun, Republic of Korea , 75-70-75  220, +7; Ally Ewing, Fulton, Miss. , 71-74-75  220, +7; Jessica Korda, Jupiter, Fla. , 72-74-74  220, +7

08:32 a.m. -- Sarah Burnham, Maple Grove, Minn. , 76-66-78  220, +7; Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif. , 71-73-76  220, +7; Patty Tavatanakit, Thailand , 75-70-75  220, +7

08:44 a.m. -- Amy Yang, Republic of Korea , 74-73-74  221, +8; Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif. , 72-75-74  221, +8; Leonie Harm, Germany , 73-75-73  221, +8

08:56 a.m. -- Jasmine Suwannapura, Thailand , 73-74-74  221, +8; Ayako Uehara, Japan , 76-71-74  221, +8; Na Yeon Choi, Republic of Korea , 75-72-74  221, +8

09:08 a.m. -- Wichanee Meechai, Thailand , 70-73-78  221, +8; Yealimi Noh, Concord, Calif. , 76-69-76  221, +8; Lauren Stephenson, Lexington, S.C. , 70-76-75  221, +8

09:20 a.m. -- Lydia Ko, New Zealand , 71-75-76  222, +9; Pajaree Anannarukarn, Thailand , 76-71-75  222, +9; Rachel Heck (a), Memphis, Tenn. , 75-72-75  222, +9

09:32 a.m. -- Stacy Lewis, The Woodlands, Texas , 72-72-78  222, +9; Gaby Lopez, Mexico , 72-73-77  222, +9; Jenny Coleman, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. , 73-73-76  222, +9

09:44 a.m. -- Minjee Lee, Australia , 73-73-77  223, +10; Jenny Shin, Republic of Korea , 72-75-76  223, +10; Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass. , 74-74-75  223, +10

09:56 a.m. -- Pernilla Lindberg, Sweden , 76-72-76  224, +11; Anna Nordqvist, Sweden , 75-73-76  224, +11; Giulia Molinaro, Italy , 74-74-76  224, +11

10:08 a.m. -- Gurleen Kaur (a), Houston, Texas , 71-73-80  224, +11; Yu Liu, People's Republic of China , 74-72-78  224, +11; Lee-Anne Pace, South Africa , 76-71-77  224, +11

10:20 a.m. -- Hannah Green, Australia , 73-75-78  226, +13; Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C. , 70-74-81  225, +12; Carlota Ciganda, Spain , 72-76-77  225, +12