Saigo Takes Three-Shot Lead at US Women’s Open in Wisconsin

Mao Saigo, fresh off her first major victory at the Chevron Championship, took a commanding three-shot lead after firing a six-under-par 66 in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills. The 23-year-old Japanese player reached 8-under 136 overall and demonstrated strong mental resilience despite some bad luck, notably when her ball bounced off the flagstick into a bunker. Saigo's lead over world number one Nelly Korda and a group of five other competitors sets up a competitive weekend, with Korda carding her best U.S. Women’s Open round of 67 and expressing optimism about her position despite a historically complex relationship with the tournament. If Saigo maintains her pace, she could finish at 16 under, potentially matching the championship record set by Brooks Koepka in 2017. Other notable contenders include Hinako Shibuno, Sarah Schmelzel, Maja Stark, Yealimi Noh, and 2020 champion A Lim Kim. Both Saigo and Korda emphasized focusing on their own games and maintaining confidence heading into the final rounds.