KOHLER, Wis. — Even as she climbed into the lead in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday, Suzann Pettersen took some time to admire Michelle Wie’s big move into contention.
Pettersen, the Norwegian star ranked sixth in the world, shot a 4-under-par 68 at Blackwolf Run and moved to 5-under for the tournament. But Wie was even better on the day, carding a 6-under 66 to move to 4-under and put herself in position to break out of a season-long slump.
Wie was tied with Cristie Kerr, the 2007 Open winner, one stroke off the lead.
Pettersen was playing in the group directly behind Wie.
“She was fist-pumping, every putt she looked at,” Pettersen said.
Wie said she doesn’t spend much time thinking about the attention she received as a high-profile child prodigy in the early 2000s, or whether some fans had written her off since then.
“I don’t know if anyone gave up on me or not,” Wie said. “I’m sure some did and some didn’t. But I never gave up on myself, and today was a good reminder to myself that I can do (it) and I still have it.”
Kerr, who was tied for the first-round lead at 3-under with Lizette Salas and Brittany Lincicome, had a 71.
Salas, a 22-year-old recent Southern California graduate, had a 73 to drop to 2-under.
Lincicome had a miserable day, shooting an 80 to fall to 5-over. “I did nothing right today,” Lincicome said. “I couldn’t drive the ball. I couldn’t do anything right. I couldn’t putt.”
Seventeen-year-old Lexi Thompson shot a 73 to top the group at 1-under.
Woods misses the cut
One week after he won for the third time this season, Tiger Woods gets a rare weekend off.
Woods missed the cut in the Greenbrier Classic by a stroke, following an opening 71 with a 69 to finish at even par. He missed a cut for only the ninth time in his PGA Tour career. Phil Mickelson also failed to advance to weekend play, the first time Woods and Mickelson have missed the cut in the same tournament as professionals.
Mickelson shot his second straight 71.
U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson topped the leaderboard at 9-under when play was suspended because of darkness after the round was delayed by rain.
Cook, Kite tied at First Tee Open
John Cook closed with a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth hole at Del Monte for a 5-under 67 and a share of the lead with 62-year-old Tom Kite in the First Tee Open.
Kite also opened at Del Monte. He won the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the site of his final two rounds in the Champions Tour event. Mark McNulty, Loren Roberts and Tom Pernice Jr. were a stroke back.
The Associated Press
