Golf’s Nasa is trying to head to the stars

PEBBLE BEACH — Yes, she’s Japanese, perhaps not a surprise in women’s golf. But her first name is, well not quite American, but something out of the U.S. space program. 

Nasa Hataoka’s mother, according to the story, wanted her to aim for the stars. A location seemingly not too far from Pebble Beach, where Saturday  Hataoka (sorry) rocketed into first place at the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open.

You talk about your near-perfect situations, first after days of fog and low clouds (yes the classic marine layer) the sun came out, then Hataoka went around one of the world’s most famous courses without a bogey — shooting a 6-under par 66.  

“It was a bit windier,” was Hataoka’s opening observation. To which anyone who’s ever spent more than a moment at Pebble would have said, “Of course.”
For the clouds to roll by as the lyrics go in an old song, you’ve got to have something to push them, like a breeze.

Not that the 24-year-old Hataoka had any truly harsh words about California’s traditional summer conditions or much else.

“The temperatures were higher today, thank goodness,” she said. “So I think my body participated with the higher temperatures.”

 No, Sam Snead might not have phrased it so delicately, but who cares.

Hataoka was at 7-under par 16 for 54 holes, one shot ahead of Allison Corpuz, the Hawaii resident who, as the words on her golf bag advise, represents a Saudi firm.

Tied for third at 212 are Hyo Joo Kim and Bailey Tardy, the Georgian who was ahead after two rounds but Saturday shot a 1-over 73.  This coming after telling us how Pebble was a golfing version of heaven on earth.

But everyone, female or male, understands how quickly things can go wrong in golf. One errant swing, one irregular bounce or one unexpended gust of wind can change dreams and fortunes.

Especially at Pebble, with those small greens, big bunkers and memories of past agonies.

It isn’t so much what you deserve in golf, it’s what you can achieve. Annika Sorenstam should have had better luck in her first — and only — opportunity to play an Open at Pebble.

When after the dreariness of the early rounds at last the sky was blue on Saturday morning you thought how sad it was that Sörenstam, after missing the Friday cut, would be no more than a spectator.

 Still, all class, she was delightful.

 “I just want to thank everybody,” she said, “it was a great week.”

 Nasa Hataoka, the space lady, very well could have a better one.