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..