COLORADO SPRINGS — Will Japan’s Mika Miyazato feel more pressure or less pressure to play well after informing reporters Saturday that she will give away all her earnings from the 66th U.S. Women’s Open to relief efforts in her homeland?
With Miyazato, the second-round leader at 5-under-par, it’s impossible to tell. She has remained stoic with a tunnel-vision focus during her week at The Broadmoor, apparently fazed by nothing — not even another maddening weather suspension for the third consecutive day that leaves the marquee championship in women’s golf at little more than the halfway point when play resumes at 6:45 a.m. today.
Miyazato, 21, said she will donate the prize money from every 2011 LPGA major championship and the Japan Open to Red Cross efforts for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan.
The way she’s playing, a hefty check should arrive soon. She earned a combined $104,448 at two previous majors.
Miyazato begins the third round this morning with a one-stroke lead over another touring player from Japan, Ai Miyazato, who coincidentally is from the same hometown (Okinawa) as Mika, although they are not related.
South Korea’s I.K. Kim stands another stroke back at 3-under, with two U.S. players, first-round leader Stacy Lewis and Ryann O’Toole, completing the list of those under par, at minus-1.
“I’m so happy to be (leading),” Mika said.
So must be the Red Cross.
Two weeks after the earthquake, Mika Miyazato spoke to the media during the LPGA Tour’s Kia Classic in California about her plans to become involved in fundraising for the relief efforts, along with Ai Miyazato and another LPGA touring pro from Japan, Momoko Ueda.
Ai Miyazato said Saturday that she has not yet finalized the details of her support. “I want to focus on my game,” she told reporters. “I will think about it after this tournament.”
Mika recalled being on a flight from her home in Okinawa to Osaka when the tragedy occurred.
“I realized what happened after I landed,” she said at the Kia Classic. “After watching TV the following day, I had seen that Sendai . . . was hit very hard with the disaster.
“Because us three players play in the U.S., after the disaster, I began to think about what we can do together to help the victims in Japan.”
Mika Miyazato has not won an LPGA Tour event. But in watching her attack the East Course, you’d never guess it. She plays an aggressive style of golf. On Saturday, with an iron approach shot, she went at a difficult, back-right pin placement on No. 18, the final hole of her second round.
It almost cost her. The ball landed 15 feet short of the flagstick but took a hard bounce and rolled through, and was buried in thick rough behind the hole. Showing the tenacity and resolve of a champion, Miyazato made a good chip from the fluff and then rolled in a 4-foot par-saving putt to preserve her 4-under 67.
That’s the best round of the tournament.
“I play so well today,” Mika said, using an interpreter when questions became difficult. “Like the fairway with my tee shots is almost every hole (hitting 13 of 14), like green in regulation (14 of 18) and so like putting so well (28 putts). So, almost perfect.”
Mika’s second round included five birdies — on Nos. 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 — against one bogey. The first birdie, a 20-footer, was her longest. Otherwise, she pelted the pins with approach shots, leaving birdie putts of 6, 6, 3 and 10 feet.
“I have confidence like my iron shot,” she said, when asked about her attacking nature.
The USGA still remains hopeful that 72 holes will be completed before darkness arrives today. Breaking from the traditional tee-time format, tournament officials have set threesomes (rather than twosomes), and groups will be starting off both the No. 1 and No. 10 tees this morning. Mika Miyazato is paired with Ai Miyazato and Kim at 8:02 a.m., off No. 1.
“I have known (Mika) since she was 10 years old,” Ai Miyazato said. “It’s really fun to play with her always, especially in this tournament.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
Wild weather
Mother Nature, we need a break. Rain and lightning delayed the U.S. Women’s Open for a third consecutive day Saturday, making completion today doubtful in the event of another weather delay.
Play was called at 6:19 p.m. Saturday, with 47 players yet to begin their third round.
Play starts today at 6:45 a.m. The leaders are scheduled to tee off at 8:02 a.m.
The USGA said it will not re-pair after the third round, and the golfers will go off the No. 1 and No. 10 tees for the final round.
TV: 7 a.m. on ESPN2, 1 p.m. on KUSA-9
If you go
Schedule
Third-round play continues at 6:45 a.m. For the final round, the groups will not be re-paired, and they will go off the same tees. A playoff would be three-holes aggregate; then, if still tied, a sudden-death playoff.
Tickets
$45 for adults; ages 17 and younger get in free with ticketed adult. Gates open at 6:30 a.m.
Parking
South on Interstate 25 to exit 138, then go east and follow signs; shuttles leave often from spectator lots. Handicap parking available at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.
Online
