A proper U.S. Open broke out at Erin Hills on Saturday during the 80th playing of the U.S. Women’s Open.
The USGA loaded Moving Day at Erin Hills with several surprises, including the pin and tee placement on the par-4 15th hole, electing to move the tee up to make it a drivable par-4 while putting the pin location in the back right.
The change to the short par-4 15th made for incredible theater all day Saturday, but it’s a hole that Esther Henseleit would like to forget. The 26-year-old arrived at the 15th hole at even par and six shots back of the lead. She pulled driver and hammered her tee shot onto the putting surface, leaving her a 55-foot putt for eagle.
That’s when the USGA’s diabolical pin placement bit back.
Henseleit’s eagle putt had to go over a ridge and picked up too much speed to stop near the hole. The putt zipped past the hole and rolled off the green, eventually landing in the rough 30 yards away.
Henseleit still had a chance to get up-and-down for par, but her third shot didn’t get to the putting surface and rolled all the way back to her feet.
When the dust finally settled, Henseleit tapped in for a double-bogey 6 after driving the green.
She wound up shooting a 2-over-74 in Round 3 and finds herself at 3-over for the tournament.
Henseleit wasn’t the only competitor to get bit by No. 15 on Saturday. Allisen Corpuz, the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open champion, hit her tee shot into the left greenside rough and then dumped her second into the bunker. She made a triple-bogey.
Hopefully, the USGA has a few more curveballs up its sleeve for what promises to be a dramatic final round on Sunday in Wisconsin.