Big names fall early in U.S. Women’s Open, with Rose Zhang and Lydia Ko among the cut victims

This U.S. Women’s Open witnessed a trio of performances that will likely never happen together again. Thursday at Lancaster Country Club, major champions Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, and Nelly Korda each shot 10-over-par 80. It was the second round ever in the 80s for Henderson, with the fourth for Korda and fifth for Ko. Even with a spirited even-par 70 by Korda Friday, all three ended up missing the weekend.

The talented trio with 47 LPGA titles between them languished alongside the field at the championship’s return to Lancaster. The average score through 36 holes was nearly over par (74.85). Only the par-5 13th played under par (4.95), with scores on the challenging par-3 12th averaging 3.62. The eight-over cutline was four strokes higher than when the course hosted the major in 2015.

Here are nine notables to miss the cut at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

Nelly Korda (80-70, 10 over)

At least Korda can take solace from the fact that she snapped her 80s streak at the U.S. Women’s Open. The No. 1 player in the world pointed out Thursday that her final round at Pebble Beach was an eight-over 80 to end up T-64.

Ariya Jutanugarn (75-75, 10 over)

The 2018 U.S. Women’s Open champion came to Lancaster off her first top-5 finish of the season at the Mizuho Americas Open (T-3). Jutanugarn made her first birdie of the championship on the second hole Friday to move to four shots inside the cutline. A pair of double bogeys on the fourth and sixth knocked her back to the cutline. The Thai played the back nine in two over.

Rose Zhang (79-72, 11 over)

Zhang’s major success in her debut season has yet to translate to her sophomore campaign. She had top-10s in her first three majors, but this year, sandwiched around winning the Cognizant Founders Cup, Zhang has not made the cut in her two major starts.

In Gee Chun (75-77, 12 over)

The 2015 winner of the championship at Lancaster couldn’t recreate the magic of her debut victory. Chun struggled to give herself opportunities to score, only hitting 13 greens in regulation. The 36.1 percent is half the three-time major champion’s career average (72.2 percent.)

Allisen Corpuz (75-77, 12 over)

Corpuz’s defense of her title won last year at Pebble Beach all but ended on the back nine Friday. Corpuz posted a five-over 40 to fall two strokes outside of the cutline. She finished near last in SG/putting Friday, losing 2.88 to the field.

Brooke Henderson (80-72, 12 over)

Both of the Canadian’s 80s in her career have come at the U.S. Women’s Open. In 2013, at the second LPGA event she ever played, the then-15-year-old carded a third-round 83. Henderson’s opening 80 was her worst round as an LPGA member.

Lydia Ko (80-73, 13 over)

Ko missed her first career cut at the U.S. Women’s Open in 13 starts, in part by faltering off the tee at the demanding Lancaster setup. She hit only 42 percent of fairways this week, putting the two-time major champion 147th in SG/off the tee (-1.68.) The Kiwi has missed her last two cuts.

Maja Stark (76-77, 13 over)

Stark was the last woman standing between Korda and her fifth consecutive title at the Chevron Championship. She backed up that runner-up with another second-place finish at the JM Eagle LA Championship. The Swede has followed up the pair of seconds with consecutive missed cuts, going birdie-free until her 34th hole at Lancaster to miss the weekend.

Lexi Thompson (78-75, 13 over)

Thompson’s retirement announcement week got cut short. Making her 18th consecutive start at the tournament before turning 30, Thompson started Friday on the cutline. Four straight bogeys from the 16th through first pushed the 11-time winner out of a chance to play the weekend. Thompson has missed back-to-back cuts at the championship for the first time since her first two appearances in 2007 and 2008, when she was only 12 and 13 years old. In what might be her final time at the major, Thompson reflected on what the championship meant to her.

“To be playing in my 18th even though it wasn’t the way I wanted to end it, it was always special every time I teed it up in a USGA event,” Thompson said. “I cherished every moment that I had.”

She’s lived that mantra by still keeping her ladybug earrings and pink visor from 17 years ago.