Saso survives brutal starts of US Women's Open that sent Korda to an 80

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Former champion Yuka Saso leaned on her putter to survive a brutally tough start to the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday, an opening round that featured Nelly Korda making a 10 on her third hole and only four players barely beating par.

Saso had three big par putts to start the back nine at Lancaster Country Club, rolled in two medium-length birdie putts toward the end of her round and finished with three putts from the collar of the 18th green for bogey and a 2-under 68.

It felt even lower than that considering all the carnage around her. The leading 10 players from the women's world ranking had an average score of 75.5 — including Korda's 80 — and only two-time major champion Minjee Lee was not over par.

“It's a U.S. Open. It's a major. It's the biggest major championship, and I think it's one of the most difficult weeks that we'll play,” Saso said. “I don't tell myself to be confident or anything like that.”