Who is Bronte Law? British golfer surges into contention at US Women's Open golf tournament

Sammy Batten
·2 min read
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SOUTHERN PINES — Who is Bronte Law?

The 27-year-old from England found herself near the top of the leaderboard Saturday after three rounds of the 77th US Women's Open Championship at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club.

Law, who had to go through the qualifying process to earn a spot, registered three birdies in her final five holes Saturday to vault herself into third place at 7-under-par 206. She'll enter Sunday's final round six strokes behind leader Minjee Lee and three behind second-place Mina Harigae.

Bronte Law, of England, hits off the second tee during the third round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., on Saturday, June 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Bronte Law, of England, hits off the second tee during the third round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., on Saturday, June 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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Law is competing in her fourth U.S. Women's Open. She's produced a victory on the LPGA Tour, posting a three-stroke  win in the 2019 Pure Silk Championship, and she is a former All-American at UCLA where she was teammates with LPGA pro Allison Lee.

Law, from Stockport, England, turned professional in 2016 and earned partial status on the LPGA Tour in 2017 through a qualifying tournament.

An injury forced her to withdraw from her previous tournament before the US Open — the Cognizant Founders Cup in May — after hitting a tree root on a shot and injuring her left thumb.

"I've only ever withdrawn one time in my life and I was in hospital, so it's pretty difficult for me to pull the plug,'' Bronte said after Friday's second round. "I'm not that kind of player. I will always battle until the end. No matter if I'm going to finish last or whatever. Yeah, that was tough for me, but I knew I had this coming up and I was going back home to see my coach, and I had to prioritize the coming events.

"Obviously, with this being a major, I could have done some serious damage by carrying on. That was a tough decision, but definitely a necessary one.''

The injury hasn't hindered Law in the US Women's Open this week. She began the tournament by carding a 2-under-par 69 in the first round and matched that total in the second.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Bronte Law: British golfer in contention at US Women's Open 2022