Golf: Ko slips back at US Open

World No 1 amateur golfer Lydia Ko slipped out of contention at the US Open Championship but remained on course to continue a pair of personal streaks. Photo / Getty Images.

World No 1 amateur golfer Lydia Ko slipped out of contention at the US Open Championship but remained on course to continue a pair of personal streaks.

Ko came into the tournament at Southampton, New York with designs on becoming the youngest major winner in golf history, but today's underwhelming second round left the 16-year-old in a tie for 32nd, 12 shots off the pace.

After opening with a steady even par 72 in yesterday's first round at the Sebonack Golf Club, Ko dropped three shots to sit three-over for the tournament when her round was suspended due to fog with two holes to play.

Ko, the world No 16, will resume early tomorrow morning well back of leader Inbee Park of South Korea, who sits on nine-under, but two shots inside the cut line.

If she avoids disaster on the final two holes, Ko will continue her record of making the cut in all of the 18 professional tournaments in which she has participated.

Ko is also tied for the leading amateur with Canadian Brooke Mackenzie Henderson, giving her ample opportunity to finish in that position in her fifth straight major.

After making the turn today in even par, with a bogey on 13 cancelled out by a birdie on 18, Ko ran into trouble on her homeward nine. She made a triple-bogey six on the third and followed that up with bogeys on four and six, but two birdies preventing her from slipping further down the leaderboard.

Ko, the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history, came into the event after an impressive showing last week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, where she finished tied fourth.