Saigo leads, Korda surges at U.S. Women's Open

ERIN, Wis. -- Mao Saigo already won her archetypal large rubric this year. She's putting herself successful presumption for different astatine the U.S. Women's Open.

Saigo changeable a 6-under 66 connected Friday to instrumentality the second-round pb astatine Erin Hills. At 8-under 136, the 23-year-old Japanese subordinate had a three-stroke vantage implicit a radical of six led by top-ranked Nelly Korda.

If Saigo maintains this pace, she would decorativeness astatine 16 nether to lucifer the people Brooks Koepka had successful winning the U.S. Open astatine Erin Hills successful 2017. Koepka matched a U.S. Open record.

Saigo was asked whether 16 nether mightiness beryllium wrong reach.

"It is precise hard to compare," she said done an intepreter. "All I tin accidental is that I volition bash my best, and arsenic a result, I would similar to marque a bully result."

Saigo won the Chevron Championship successful a playoff extracurricular Houston conscionable implicit a period agone for her archetypal LPGA Tour title.

Korda, who has ne'er finished higher than a necktie for eighth successful the U.S. Women's Open, had a 67. That's the champion circular she's had successful the event.

"I consciousness similar I've had a precise analyzable narration with U.S. Opens," Korda said, "but I'm blessed to beryllium successful the presumption I americium heading into the weekend."

She was 5 nether with Hinako Shibuno (69), Sarah Schmelzel (68), Maja Stark (69), Yealimi Noh (71) and 2020 U.S. Women's Open champion A Lim Kim (71). Jing Yan (69), Lin Grant (69), Chiara Tamburlini (71) and Jinhee Im (72) were 4 under.

After not making a birdie until her 18th spread Thursday, Korda had 7 of them Friday acknowledgment to her improved putting.

"Honestly, I was hitting truly bully putts yesterday," Korda said. "I was hitting it precisely wherever I wanted to and they conscionable weren't falling. It was 1 of those days. Today I did the aforesaid thing."

Kim was 1 of 18 competitors inactive connected the people finishing their rounds erstwhile upwind concerns halted play for astir 54 minutes. Kim was unsocial successful 2nd spot astatine 6 nether and playing No. 17 erstwhile the hold happened.

The 29-year-old from South Korea said she waited retired the hold successful a car. Kim past returned to marque par connected No. 17 earlier bogeying the par-5 18th to autumn backmost into a necktie for second.

Kim said she inactive likes wherever she stands midway done the tournament.

"Really bully position," Kim said. "I emotion to pursuit the leader, truthful fto maine see."

Saigo made definite everyone would beryllium chasing her this play arsenic she bounced backmost from immoderate aboriginal misfortune.

After starting retired astatine No. 10 and getting birdies connected No. 11 and No. 12, Saigo bogeyed the par-5 No. 14 erstwhile she got a atrocious break. Her 3rd changeable deed the flagstick, bounced backward and rolled each the mode to a bunker.

But she recovered by getting 4 birdies successful a five-hole agelong from Nos. 16-2.

"I thought that was not my mistake," Saigo said. "I conscionable thought to myself that it was conscionable unlucky, and past I conscionable changed my mind."

Play was suspended owed to acheronian Friday nighttime with 12 subordinate incapable to finish.