LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� After Nelly Korda went winless last year, she endeavored to change her mindset. Instead of dwelling on the inevitable mistakes of golf, she focused on staying positive and playing freely. She’s even traveling with Post-it Notes so she can write weekly affirmations to herself and stick them on her bathroom mirror.
The results from this positive vibe shift have been spectacular all season, and it’s working again at the U.S. Women’s Open. After Korda started poorly this week at Riviera, she shook it off and responded with two straight stellar rounds that have put the World No. 1 in prime position to win the title she covets most of all.
Korda shot her second straight 4-under 67 on Saturday to claim a share of the lead in the 81st Open, ending with three consecutive birdies and finishing even with Sei Young Kim at 6-under 207.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always amazing to be in this position,鈥� Korda said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we work so hard for, to be in this spot. So whatever happens tomorrow happens, but I鈥檓 going to give it my all and see what the outcome is.鈥�
Korda, already a three-time major winner after dominating , has played her way into prime position and first U.S. Open championship.
It won’t be simple: Seven players were within two shots of the top of a leaderboard crowded with major winners. and 2015 U.S. Women鈥檚 Open champion In Gee Chun were a shot back at 5 under after 69s, while second-round co-leader Ruoning Yin, Mexico鈥檚 Gaby Lopez and Japan鈥檚 Nasa Hataoka were 4 under.
But Korda’s surge in Southern California is her latest superlative in a year already featuring three wins, three second-place finishes and a spot atop the world rankings in her first seven starts.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to get too frustrated,鈥� Korda said. 鈥淚 think last year I really, really wanted it, and the more you want it, sometimes the more you stiffen up and you get a little bit more nervous. So I play my best golf when I鈥檓 happy, free Nelly and I鈥檓 kind of joking around out there. That鈥檚 kind of the attitude that I鈥檓 going to have (Sunday).鈥�
Korda was seven shots off the lead and struggling with her driver after that opening-round 73. Her big sister, six-time LPGA Tour winner Jessica Korda, encouraged her to strengthen her grip, and Nelly promptly got into contention by posting Friday鈥檚 lowest score and then surging steadily up the leaderboard on moving day.
Korda chipped in from the fringe for birdie on the third hole Saturday, and she nailed an 18-foot birdie putt on the sixth. She finished with her birdie spree, reaching the par-5 17th green in two before smashing her 154-yard approach shot to 4 feet on the 18th.
Korda had never posted consecutive rounds in the 60s in a U.S. Women鈥檚 Open, not even last year when she .
She believes that experience and her ongoing work on her mental game have put her in a prime position to execute Sunday. Her attitude shift was a necessary self-improvement decision encouraged by her parents, her time with a sports psychologist and even her fiance, who sometimes implores her to be a bit more positive.
鈥淪o there has been a bunch of work that I鈥檝e done with other people, but I would say the person that makes the biggest change is myself,鈥� Korda said.
Several players traded the lead on a sunny afternoon in front of the week鈥檚 biggest crowd at this 100-year-old country club in Pacific Palisades.
Kim was one shot off the lead after each of the first two rounds, and the South Korean star carded a steady 68 after a birdie on 17 to stay right on pace with Korda.
鈥淚 tried to keep my patience and just waited for a chance,鈥� said Kim, a 13-time winner on the LPGA Tour. 鈥淲hen the chances came to me, I just made it. … When I finished, that was the first time I saw the scoreboard with a lot of good golfers, especially Nelly and then Gaby, who I played with. It always feels great to play with great players. I鈥檓 competitive, so it鈥檚 really like I鈥檓 lucky to play with them.鈥�
are also still firmly in contention.
Southern California native Alison Lee was one shot off the lead on the back nine before making three late bogeys and finishing at 3 under. Lee, who gave birth to son Levi 15 months ago, would be only the fourth mother to win the U.S. Open and the first since Juli Inkster in 2002.
Yin made three bogeys on the front nine before getting back to 4 under with two late birdies. Her 71 made her the first golfer in U.S. Open history with seven consecutive rounds of even par or better.
England’s Charley Hull carded Saturday’s low round at 65, making seven birdies and moving just three shots back of the lead. Asterisk Talley, a 17-year-old amateur from California鈥檚 Central Valley, shot a 66.
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