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First major title in sight for Michelle Wie

June 20, 2014

Grabs three-shot second round lead in U.S. Women’s Open
She and Lexi Thompson are the only players under par

Michelle Wie watches her tee shot on the 13th hole during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament in Pinehurst, N.C., Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Lucy Li reacts after missing a birdie putt on the seventh hole during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament in Pinehurst, N.C., Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

11-year-old Lucy Li misses the cut at 16-over par

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Michelle Wie delivered the best comparison of all between the men and women at Pinehurst No. 2. She was threatening to turn this major into a runaway.

Wie made two big pars and closed with two birdies for a second straight 2-under 68, giving her a three-shot lead over Lexi Thompson.

In the afternoon, even with a brief shower, the field at the U.S. Women’s Open was in full retreat. Wie, at 4-under 136, and Thompson, at 1-under 139, are the only players under par.

“End of the day yesterday, I was thinking if I just did this again, that would be nice,” Wie said. “Finishing with two birdies is always great. It’s a grind out there. It’s not easy. Really grateful for the par putts that I made and some of the birdie putts that I made. I can’t complain. I’ll take it.”

Pinehurst No. 2 wasn’t in much of a giving mood on another warm day in the North Carolina sandhills.

Stacy Lewis, the No. 1 player in women’s golf who opened with a 67, spent the afternoon trading birdies and bogeys, and bogeys were winning. She was 3 over for the day — even for the championship — as the halfway mark.

Lucy Li’s historic week as the youngest qualifier in the Women’s Open didn’t last long. She opened with a double bogey for the second straight day and wound up with another 78 to finish at 16-over par, well beyond the cut line.

The course was set up similar to the second round for the men last week, when Martin Kaymer set a U.S. Open record at 10-under 130 for a six-shot lead. He never let anyone get closer than four shots over the final 48 holes.

The tee was moved up on the par-4 third hole, playing 229 yards (it was 315 yards for the men). The par-5 10th was moved all the way back to 578 yards.

Minjee Lee, the 18-year-old amateur from Australia, had a 71 and Amy Yang had a 69. They were at even-par 140 along with Lewis.

The greatest testament to Wie is that having the lead at the U.S. Women’s Open lead is no longer a big surprise. She is hitting the ball clean and under control. She has created her own putting stroke and his vastly improved.

Wie won the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii and has seven other top 10s this year, including a runner-up finish to Lexi Thompson in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major of the year.

The last time Wie was a regular contender in the majors, she was 16.