The world’s number one golfer and six-time winner in 2024 has missed the cut at the US Women’s Open in Lancaster. Nelly Korda‘s (-10) effort to make it into the weekend was not enough. She had it in her sights. She was in after her third consecutive birdie at hole 8, she was one behind after making a bogey at 9 and was unable to make any more birdies in the following nine holes. In fact, she finished with a bogey to eliminate any chance of the equation. Finally, the cut was closed at +8.
On the other hand, leading the tournament is Wichanee Meechai (-4), a 31-year-old Thai player, born on the night of the Three Kings and ranked 158th in the world. Her best position has been 152nd. She does not have a single top 3 in the LPGA Tour or the Ladies European Tour and her only victory in a tournament valid for the world ranking was on the local circuit in Thailand in 2015. Surprise? Absolute. Will she hold on? Who knows. It seems very complicated.
Meechai and Andrea Lee (-2), second place alone, are the only two golfers who have managed to go under par both days in Lancaster. Andrea Lee does have more pedigree. She is top 50 in the world ranking, has already won on the LPGA Tour (Portland in 2022) and has played the last Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesín. Completing the list of golfers under par are Minjee Lee (-1) and Yuka Saso (-1), who played in the morning and are in the winners’ list of this tournament.
Another fact breaks forecasts. Of the four amateur golfers who have made the cut in Lancaster, there are three ranked among the top 16 of the US Open (Asterisk Talley, Megan Schofill and Catherine Park). However, among the top twenty we only have one top 10 in the world, the Australian Minjee Lee. Moreover, there are only two top 10 in the world among the top 25 of the tournament or with a result lower than +7.
The playing conditions this Friday have been similar to Thursday. The greens have been a little more receptive and as the hours of play have passed the wind has blown with less intensity. Therefore, the results have not been so high. In the second round there have been nine rounds under par, compared to four on Thursday, and two 67s compared to none on the first day. In addition, there have been five rounds of less than 80 strokes or more.
The list of players who have missed the cut is of high standing: Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, Sei Young Kim (withdrawn), Lexi Thompson (in her last US Open), In Gee Chun, Maja Stark. Patty Tavatanakit, Allisen Corpuz, Jennifer Kupcho, Brooke Henderson, Georgia Hall, Rose Zhang, Leona Maguire, Ariya Jtanugarn or Linn Grant. Almost nothing. A slaughter of title favourites.
Carlota Ciganda (+5) comfortably made the cut and is four strokes from the top 10 and nine from the first position. There is still much to do in this US Open.
