By Rory Carroll
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Sunny skies and strong coastal winds greeted a large and boisterous crowd as the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open got under way at San Francisco’s Olympic Club on Sunday.
Overnight leader Lexi Thompson gave her fans something to cheer about right away with a birdie on the par-five first to extend her lead to two strokes over 19-year-old Yuka Saso.
Thompson said after her bogey-free third round 66 that her focus on bringing a more positive mindset to the game was paying dividends and the American smiled even after her tee-shot on the par-four second found the course’s thick rough.
High school student and tournament darling Megha Ganne faltered out of the gate with a double bogey on the first to drop to one-under par at the major, seven strokes behind Thompson.
The 76th edition of the U.S. Women’s Open marks the first time that it has been played at the hilly and challenging Olympic Club, the oceanside course that has hosted five men’s U.S. Opens.
(Editing by Toby Davis)
