Millennial, Schmillenial! Inkster Crashes Women's Open Party

Stuart Hall sets up the 2014 final round possibilities, as Michelle Wie and Amy Yang head into the last day at Pinehurst tied for the lead, but now are just four ahead of a group that includes an amateur (18 year old Minjee Lee) and most incredibly, 53-year-old Juli Inkster playing in her final U.S. Open.

Bill Fields focused on Inkster's 66, which included this unbelievable statistical performance:

Inkster's play, in sharp contrast to a second-round 75, was much better than OK Saturday as she hit 13 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens. Her putting, which has kept her from scoring better in her late-40s and early-50s, was solid. She three-putted the eighth but holed a clutch 10-footer for par on the difficult 16th hole.

Darren Carroll's photos at USWomensOpen.com illustrate the diverse leading group.

NBC's final round telecast begins at 3 pm ET.

Comments

[Gmail]

She certainly sent thrills up the legs of people on twitter, who were treating it like she were four ahead, not four behind. Her putting, when stressed, is not good. It would be wonderful if she won, but I just don't see it. Debbie Downer that I am, I'd put the OU on her score tomorrow at 74.

[#tobefair]

Unless they were wrongly credited it appears a MATT SULLIVAN took a few of the photos as well.

[cottriab]

I'll be rooting for michelle. After all she's been through, I'd love to see reaction to winning a major.

[BrianS]

Creamer goes Phil Mickelson (Muirfield) on this thing, shoots 65 and wins by 1.

[Media driven]

Inkster a long shot. I wanted some context, how competitive is she these days on the LPGA Tour?? I think it was somewhat flukey....but would love to see her hang in there. Was one of the great putters in her prime and beyond and from all accounts, a pretty neat lady.

Annika is pretty dull/bad on NBC seems kinda disinterested. Where's Johnny??

[Chicago John]

Wie wins by 3 shots... you heard it hear first.

[Chicago John]

Make that HERE. *idiot*

[Bill Fields]

media driven

In terms of how Juli Inkster has competed on LPGA Tour in recent years: Her last top-10 finish was in 2011, when she had four of them.Her last victory was in 2006. This year, in eight events prior to the U.S. Women's Open, she made the cut in four, best finish 34th. Played sparingly in 2012 after having surgery on torn tendon/ulnar nerve in right elbow.

[BDF]

There is a 17 year old amateur in 5th place, and they don't even mention her name. She's -3 today, but oh, she isn't American.

[BDF]

I take it back, they showed a putt.

[tlavin]

So the NBC announcers are jingoistic nationalistic xenophobes? Gimme a break. The LPGA is decidedly international and the coverage is always fair in that respect.

[ol Harv]

Okay, I have now seen it all. Not only must we be subjected to the LPGA caddie line up from behind nonsense, but I just saw Paula Creamer's caddie using a club during her practice swings to hold her head in place. You have got to be kidding me.

[DTF]

Annika is horrendous....

[RickABQ]

Del -

I've just been watching for an hour or so. You are being way, way too kind to Annika.

[DTF]

Glad it's not just me! Reminds me of Damon Hack, either of them start talking I turn the channel...

[Sari]

And adversity hits late...

[Jeremy]

Spectacular letdown by Wie on 16.

Over on the men's side, Kevin Streelman just closed his round with 7 straight birdies and is sitting in the clubhouse with a 1 shot lead. He was so dialed in it looked like he might have kept going for a few more holes if he had the chance.

[Sari]

But a great response on 17 Jeremy!

[No Longer]

Not just you Del, add me to the list.

[dbh]

Rick/Dtf, you guys suggesting she was worse than Mark Rolfing earlier today: 'She left it further short than she intended'? That's a limbo level bar. :)
Any woo, congrats to MW, without question the best player on the week and deserving champ.

[RickABQ]

dbh -

I did note one Annikaism when I first turned it on - something like "that's the trick - not to hit it too hard or not to hit it too easy". She gets paid for those insights? :-) I say stuff like that to my kid all the time for free!

Agree with you on MW - she played the most solidly all week and deserved the win.

And this isn't a sexist comment - Annika could use some voice lessons if she is going to be a professional commentator. Nails, meet blackboard.

[DTF]

Zero 3-putts in 72 holes....can't wait to hear how some hater puts a negative spin on that. Might this table-top style of putting gain some traction? ;)

Good onya Michelle. US Open Champion, they can't ever take it away from you....

I heard an announcer say S. Lewis is using this AimPoint technique, last week is was A. Scott, the AimPoint people gotta be loving life!

[OWGR Fan]

I'm not a huge fan of the LPGA but what a great win for Michelle Wie and a super Sunday charge from Stacy Lewis. Fantastic answer of the double on 16 from Michelle to bury the birdie putt on 17. It has been a great year for the LPGA. Todays result makes it even better. Hope the LPGA season continues on an upward path it has been on and more people take greater notice, myself included, and watch more.

[Media driven]

Let's see how strong the TV ratings are before we proclaim it a "dream'' LPGA season (oops, Sirak already has).

Agree on Annika wonder if anyone in mainstream media will write how horrible she is!!

[The Pro from Dover]

Great two weeks of golf and hype for Pinehurst R&CC. Was able to see some of both weeks and enjoyed it.

However, the USGA needs to take to heart the "While we are young" campaign they have been promoting. I honestly have not seen any slower players than the women were this week. So much prancing, shadow putting, caddy pointing, shadow putting again, Looking at from 15 different angles, more shadow putting, placing the ball, more prancing and looking, re-aligning the ball. Shadow putting again, then finally putting. Unreal!

Men too, but the women were more deliberate. If they want to help promote golf, they have to learn to play at a more acceptable pace.

Today's last group was 1 1/2 holes being the group that finished in from of them.

USGA, make it part of your promo -- speed up the game if you are not going to 'grow the game', at least speed it up.

Congrats to Michelle Wie. Great performance this week. Was fortunate to watch a lot of her play on the back nine today.

[KLG]

Good on Michelle Wie! Still in her early 20s and a Major Champion! I predict 6-7 more. This is good for women's golf!

Annika must have been kinda like my play today in the local championship. I had to return to the tee three (3) times. My scorecard looked like two social security numbers that forgot the numerals 3-4. If I had remembered the penknife in my bag I could have used it to put myself out of my fellow competitor's misery. They were in the other cart (unwalkable course) and would have been happy to miss me. Still, it takes a certain talent to keep it under 90 with 6 doubles and 2 triples and no birdies ;-)

Anyway, good on the USGA, too. Two weeks, well done.

[Tom Ierubino]

KLG,

Isn't what it takes to keep it under 90 with 6 doubles and 2 triples a course that plays as a par 71 or less? -:)

[KLG]

Yep, Tom! Nine pars and many "others." It was actually 5 doubles and 2 common bogeys to go with the triples. Hard to keep track of such numbers. Almost ran out of golf balls.