3 Things: 80th U.S. Women's Open, Second Round

Erin Hills proved to be every bit the test it was expected to be in the first round of 80th U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally, demanding accuracy off the tee, precise iron play and deft chipping and putting. That the leader board ended up as bunched as it is speaks of the complete test the course provided.

The opening round of a championship is often a feeling out process as players and their caddies refine the strategy they developed during practice rounds for how to attack the course. In Thursday’s opening round, everything was very real, including the pressure. Friday’s second round will be more of a settling-in process before the pressure really builds on the weekend.

Here are 3 things to look for in Friday’s second round.

Who Breaks Out?

There is a logjam at the top of the leader board. Is there someone who can go low on Friday and make a statement that she will be a force to contend with on the weekend? Certainly, there are many with the credentials to suggest they might post another number well into the red and create some separation.

A Lim Kim has won the U.S. Women’s Open before when she emerged victorious in 2020, and Hinako Shibuno has the AIG Women’s Open on her resume. Yealimi Noh picked up her first win on the LPGA Tour earlier this year. Rio Takeda was T9 in last year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club. And Jinhee Im was T12 in Lancaster and, despite being only 26 years old, has been a professional since 2016. Angel Yin hits the ball a mile and if she finds fairways she can go low. Keep an eye out and see if one of them breaks from the pack on Friday.

Who Plays Their Way Back into Contention?

Who among the players four or more strokes off the lead might make a move up the leader board on Friday? Among those at even-par 72 after 18 holes are past U.S. Women’s Open champions In Gee Chun (2015), Ariya Jutanugarn (2018) and Allisen Corpuz (2023), as well as Rolex No. 1 Nelly Korda. Lydia Ko, who needs the U.S. Women’s Open to get her fourth different LPGA major, is at 73.

If any of those players posts a number under par on Friday they will thrust themselves solidly into the mix. And it’s even possible that someone farther back can post a number that begins with a 6 and find themselves in the mix going into the weekend. Friday is a good day to remember that there is still a lot of golf to play. Who will climb the leader board?

Who makes it to the weekend?

After Friday’s round, the field of 156 will be cut to the low 60 and ties. Among those currently outside the cut line are defending champion Yuka Saso (74), five-time major winner Yani Tseng (75), major champion Brooke Henderson (75), Rolex Ranking No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul (75), 2019 champion Jeongeun Lee6 (76), 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Rose Zhang (76) and 2017 U.S. Women’s Open champion Sung Hyun Park (77).

Truly, anyone who makes the cut will very likely still have a chance to contend on the weekend. Keep an eye on those scrambling just to qualify for the final 36 holes. Someone in that group could make some big noise on Saturday and Sunday.

Ron Sirak is an award-winning Massachusetts-based golf writer whose work has previously appeared on USGA websites and publications.