Matt Sullivan/Getty ImagesBEDMINSTER, N.J. — Marina Alex is a native of Wayne, N.J., just 39 miles away from Trump Bedminster. More importantly, to her, she's right in the thick of things at the U.S. Women’s Open. Rounds of 71-70 have the former Vanderbilt All-American at three under halfway through the championship, and just a few strokes back of the leaders.
A victory would be somewhat unexpected for Alex, who's in her fifth year on the LPGA Tour and whose best career finish is a T-6 at the 2016 LPGA Volvik Championship. The 26-year-old has had some success in previous U.S. Women's Opens; two years ago she led after a first-round 66 at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club, where she finished tied for 20th.
Alex, who has had four top-10 finishes this season, showed as much poise in the press room on Friday as she did on the golf course. Like every player who’s come in to talk to the media this week, Alex was asked about the specter of President Trump and his connection to the ..

Harry HowHootie Johnson speaks at the Green Jacket ceremony after the final round of the 2003 Masters.Hootie Johnson undeniably was stubborn, as he so often was described, though in his defense it ostensibly is a requirement for the job of Augusta National chairman, dating to its original benevolent dictator, as he was called, Clifford Roberts.
Johnson’s stubbornness revealed itself in the 2003 controversy emanating from Martha Burk’s crusade to force the club to open its membership to women.
The club’s chairman from 1998 through 2006 steadfastly refused and famously said in a statement that it would not acquiesce “at the point of a bayonet.”
Johnson, 86, died on Friday morning and, for better or worse, his legacy inextricably will be linked to Burk.
The controversy, played out in page one headlines and nightly news telecasts over the course of several months, overshadowed welcome changes that occurred during Johnson’s tenure, notably expanding television coverage of the Masters to all..

Tony Marshall / Getty ImagesA dejected Rory McIlroy leaves the 18th green after finishing his second round during at the 2017 Scottish Open and missing the cut.TROON, Scotland — This is getting to be a habit—and not in a good way. For the third time in Rory McIlroy’s last four starts, the Irishman’s golf will not be on public display on a tournament weekend. Adding a second-round 71 to the opening 74 he shot over the Dundonald Links, the four-time major champion missed the cut at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. As a result, the 2014 Open champion at Hoylake will arrive next week at at Royal Birkdale seriously short of competitive practice and, more importantly, a long way short of his best form.
Not surprisingly, McIlroy’s participation in Scotland ended badly, and typically, given his well-chronicled putting woes. Needing a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole (his 18th) the World No. 4 pulled his approach well left of the green, where it struck a spectator. The pitch-and-run t..

Elsa(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BEDMINSTER, N.J. — A new name—and number—is on top of the leader board at the U.S. Women’s Open. Jeongeun Lee, on the scoreboard as Lee Je6, shot back-to-back 69s in the first two rounds at Trump National Bedminster. As the afternoon wave begins on Friday, Lee is tied for the lead with Shanshan Feng at six under.
Lee is a 21-year-old who plays on the Korean LPGA Tour, and that’s where the explanation for the 6 in her name comes from: She’s the sixth player on the KLPGA with the name Jeongeun Lee.
“I’m the last one with the name Jeongeun, which gave me the 6,” said Lee, through her translator. “The name of my fan club [in South Korea] is Lucky 6.”
There’s one other Jeongeun Lee in the U.S. Women’s Open field, No. 5.
This is Lee’s first time in the United States. Though the LPGA is known to have the strongest fields in women’s golf, the way Lee describes the competition on the KLPGA is similar to what the competition has been like on the LPGA this year.
“O..

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesPadraig Harrington waits on the fourth hole during the second round of the 2017 Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.TROON, Scotland — We can’t say he didn’t warn us. Padraig Harrington, speaking last April just prior to working Sky Sports’ Masters broadcast while recovering from an operation on his neck, had this to say about his playing prospects for the upcoming season: “If I was a member of the general public, I would go out and find the most obscure bet I can find on me and put £1 on it. Whatever it is, I would do it. I’m an optimist. I have to create my own reality and believe it, even if it is no one else’s.”
For those faithful souls who took the 45-year-old Irishman at his word and backed him to win a tournament during 2017, these are potentially exciting times. Three months after what appeared to be a somewhat outlandish prediction, the ever-eccentric Dubliner added a second-round 68 to his opening 67. His nine-under-par score for two rounds at the Aberd..

Jeff J MitchellBEDMINSTER, N.J. — With the U.S. Women's Open being conducted at Trump National Bedminster rumors about whether or not Donald Trump would actually attend the event have been going around all week. His son Eric was on site Thursday. President Trump has put the rumors to rest by tweeting that he is leaving France and will be arriving at the golf course Friday afternoon.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/885865609971605508
The USGA released a statement Friday morning about the potential arrival of the President:
“If the President of the United States decides to attend the U.S. Women's Open Championship, we welcome him. It will be the first time a sitting president has attended the U.S. Women's Open and is only the third occurrence in our entire championship history. Our focus remains on conducting the championship and ensuring a great experience for the players and fans this week.”
The other two sitting Presidents whom have attended U.S. Open champi..