First US Open of her life and first star match. That’s how Julia López (-5) rolls with her unstoppable audacity. The young golfer from Málaga is very special. Because you have to be very special to deliver the best round of the day on a Saturday at a Major, a Saturday at the US Open, at Erin Hills. To do it, moreover, prominently and to get into second position just one stroke off the lead. The golfer from Benahavís has made a splash in Wisconsin.
The former World Number One amateur has sealed a fascinating moving day. She started with a supernatural eagle on the 1st hole. With everyone struggling on an increasingly tough and fierce course and with the flags a bit more hidden, Julia unleashed a drive of nearly 300 yards and executed an impressive second shot of 200 metres to leave the ball very close to the hole. Eagle certified and acknowledged. An extraordinary feat.
Everyone was struggling, saving pars, stumbling here and there, leaving a trail of strokes along the way, except for the Andalusian who seemed to be playing on a different course. She made her first and only bogey of the day on the 3rd and from there, it was plain sailing. Three more birdies fell without errors. She scored on the next par 5, the 7th hole, after a great bunker shot next to the green. The next birdie came on the 12th. A spectacular shot from the fairway, again just over a metre from the flag. She missed two good chances on the 14th and 15th, but responded with another birdie on the 16th. Another great shot on this par 3 to about two and a half metres and in. She finished with two good pars on the 17th and 18th. A round of 68 strokes on a day when only nine golfers played under par and she was the only one who managed to break 70. Remember, no Spanish golfer has ever won a Major. She has the chance in the third one she plays in her life. Extraordinary.
Julia López, in her first US Open, will go out in the star match on Sunday just one stroke behind Maja Stark (-7), the tournament’s sole leader. Whatever happens tomorrow, no one can take that away from her. There are golfers who retire after a more than notable career and never experience a star match on a Sunday at a major. One stroke behind Julia are the three Japanese players, like kamikazes aligned against a target: Rio Takeda, Mao Saigo, and Hinako Shibuno. All at -5.
Julia will face the ultimate test of a Major final round with a chance of victory this Sunday. It won’t be easy. Not easy at all. But neither is a moving day a walk in the park, and she has resolved it with uncommon greatness. Because that’s how this golfer is: out of the ordinary. As things stand, we can expect anything. Sunday could be challenging and long for her, just as we might see her soar over Erin Hills as if she’s been doing this all her life. Among those who struggled today is Nelly Korda (-4). She played over par, although she remains fully in the fight for victory. A high-flying Sunday.
And in the fight to win was also at times Carolina López Chacarra (+3). The golfer from Madrid managed to get to a cumulative two under par, fully in the top 10. A poor finish with three bogeys and a double bogey on the last hole caused her to lose many positions. Despite everything, she will fight this Sunday to be the best amateur in the tournament. She is two strokes behind Rayee Feng (+1) and one behind Lottie Woad (+2). That’s how these Spanish fighters are.
