Wichanee Meechai leads U.S. Women's Open; Nelly Korda misses cut - ESPN

LANCASTER, Pa. — Wichanee Meechai became the latest surprise in a U.S. Women's Open filled with them. She started Friday with four straight birdies and matched the low score of the week with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot lead going into a weekend that won't include Nelly Korda.

Meechai, a 31-year-old from Thailand, had never finished in the top 10 in her 20 previous appearances in the majors. Her only victory recognized by the women's world ranking was nine years ago on the Taiwan LPGA.

She went from five shots ahead of Andrea Lee to two shots behind in a span of five holes. Meechai steadied herself with two birdies over the last six holes to finish at 4-under 136, two shots in front of Lee with only two other players under par.

A pair of former Women's Open champions, Minjee Lee (69) and Yuka Saso (71) were three shots back at Lancaster Country Club.

«I feel like I might not be making a lot of birdies on the easier courses. I'm not that person,» Meechai said in trying to explain her 36-hole lead in a major. «I like when you need to think a lot, when you need to land it shorter and be patient.»

That worked to perfection on her opening four holes, all birdie putts inside 6 feet.

«I just picked the club that's shorter and hit it hard,» she said.

The week started with a surprise announcement by Lexi Thompson that she will retire from a full schedule at the end of the year. Her 18th and most likely final U.S. Women's Open ended early with rounds of 78-75.

It will end with Korda back home in Florida, missing the cut for the first time in nearly a year.

Korda got a small measure of revenge on the par-3 12th, where on Thursday she hit into the water three times and made a career-worst 10 on her way to an 80. This time the pin was