Slow play becomes an issue at Oakmont

OAKMONT, Pa. -- If you were expecting the pace of play at the U.S. Women's Open to quicken after the 36-hole cut, think again. The final pairing of Cristie Kerr, Sakura Yokomine and Paula Creamer took three hours - give or take a minute or two, depending on whose watch you were using - to play nine holes, making the turn just past 7:30 p.m.

While Creamer played steady, with a birdie and a bogey and has the lead at even-par, Yokomine and Kerr had their struggles. Yokomine began bogey-bogey-triple bogey and made the turn at six over. Kerr double bogeyed Nos. 4 and 5 but birdied the sixth and ninth holes and is three over.

The grinding pace was evident at the ninth green, when both Yokomine and Kerr each took 75 seconds before hitting short putts.

--Bill Fields