It’s a big week in women’s golf. The US Women’s Open is being held at Lancaster, in Pennsylvania. “A beast,” was how Nelly Korda bluntly described it in her press conference this week. Indeed, it will be a very demanding test. “Tough week,” says Carlota Ciganda, the only Spaniard present at the event, in statements to Ten Golf.
The course is very long and even more so on practice days. From the back tees, it’s almost unplayable. “If they don’t move the tees forward, we could easily take six hours to play,” says the Navarrese golfer. Obviously, that’s not going to happen. The logical thing is that, especially on Thursday and Friday, the USGA will move a good number of tees forward, at least the two par 5s present in this par 70, as if they don’t, even the world’s top hitters wouldn’t reach in two and it would lose some excitement.
Be that as it may, even if they prepare it shorter, it’s going to be a very tough week. Right now, the feeling in Lancaster is that everyone would sign for a result of one under par each. Four rounds of 69 strokes are not only worth their weight in gold but could even give you the victory. The rough is dense and very rough and the greens are small and very undulating, with very steep slopes that will cause more than one and two three-putts. You have to be on the fairway, be very precise in the shot to the green and putt with composure. All aspects of the game are being tested. A great test. Up to the standard of what the US Open and the USGA usually are.
One of the complications of the course that will be less noticeable on television is the undulation of the fairways. Carlota tells us about it. They have a lot of movement, so you’re almost always hitting the shot to the green on a slope, with the ball higher or lower than your feet, an added difficulty.
In 2015, the last time the US Women’s Open was played at Lancaster, there was Korean dominance, with In Gee Chun winning with -8. This year the conditions are tougher, as heat is also expected, so they can make it as tough as they want. The final result of the champion will be in the hands of the USGA. They will be able to manage the tournament as they please.
Precisely, the last time the US Women’s Open was played at Lancaster, four Spaniards participated and only one made the cut, the Malaga-born Azahara Muñoz, who finished in 32nd place. Both Belén Mozo and Bea Recari and Carlota Ciganda were left out of the weekend. Things didn’t go well for Carlota and yet she doesn’t hesitate to say that she likes the course, that it catches her eye. Let’s remember that Spanish golf is still looking for its first victory in a women’s major.
Beyond Carlota, obviously all eyes are on Nelly Korda, whether she will be able to continue her extraordinary winning streak from 2024 and win once again. Everyone against Nelly, that’s the name of the game.
