No one outside the paid ranks has won the Women’s Major in the 54 years since Frenchwoman Catherine Lacoste, a tennis champion, won her father’s multimillion-dollar clothing line in the US. Women’s Open. (Spanish amateur Marta Figueres-Dotti won the title in 1982, but was not recognized as a major until 2001).
It would be a remarkable double for the amateur women’s champion and the fact that Duncan allowed herself to stand behind the 18th green on Saturday and even discuss her chances of winning would be her week now. Shows excellent quality.
He said, ‘Yes, I think how I played today, I have a good chance. “If I can keep the ghosts off the map, I have a good chance.” If you’d told me I’d say it on Saturday, yeah, I think it would have been silly.
“I wasn’t doing well last week either and my goal was to go through the weekend and try not to embarrass myself. Can’t wait to get out tomorrow and hope it’s a bit. Most of this course Unlike I only played golf all year long so that’s definitely a bonus. But apparently I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, Carnoustie’s history is one of catastrophe.”
Even more remarkable is Duncan’s rise in that he didn’t bother to play competitively last year. “We had an interruption and I decided not to go and play in the big amateur tournaments,” he said. “I really didn’t want to take the risk. And yes, it has helped me recover and regain my taste of golf.”
In Duncan’s fantastic dream world, there is a stark negative. As a fan, Duncan is reminded that he doesn’t deserve to make any money. And with a winning check of £642,000 on a record women’s jackpot of £4.2 million, that would be a lot to lose.
“Thanks for that,” said Duncan, smiling. “I’m going to drown my sorrows tomorrow, I feel, tears running down my face. But whatever happens, happens. I’ll try not to watch.”
In fact, since Duncan’s Marvel is admirable to maintain, it’s hard but likely and that’s because of the quality of the tableau de border. Nordquist had a best score of 65 of the week and the 2009 USPGA Women’s champions have additional incentive to fight their way into the European Solheim Cup, the final qualifying tournament for the match played within the Duke Semens in Toledo.
Third, down eight, is US Solheim regular Lizzette Salas, while Duncan is accompanied by former world number one Lexi Thompson and US Women’s Open winner of the year. Passed, Sei Young Kim. There is another world No. 1 Nelly Korda, along with Thailand’s Aria Jutanagarn, another former world No. 1 and another big winner with Canadian Brooke Henderson.
Add to the mix England’s Georgia Hall, six-under par, and it has the potential to be a classic Sunday, with the top 14 separated by just three shots for the final round.
Hall holds his own record of writing as England’s first multiple winner of this tournament. The 2018 champions, in the final group, were muddy in their top nine, but showed admirable courage even in the rain to normalize for 73. If this was his “bad” week, it will always be in the halls.
Maybe Thompson, along with her local caddy, Paul Drummond, is at the forefront of easing the stress on this sometimes overly emotional artist. “It was very rewarding to have Paul in the bag, which gave me some good lines and rebounds on the green that I would never play for,” Thompson said. “I am very grateful that he helped me and kept me nice, relaxed and laughing all the time. We have a good time”.
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