The Numbers Behind Nasa Hataoka’s Field-Crushing 66 at Pebble Beach

The 24-year-old from Japan snagged the lead at the U.S. Women’s Open with a round that bested the field average by nearly nine shots.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The gray marine layer finally cleared at Pebble Beach on Saturday and bright blue skies lit up the oceanside property. The sun emerged just in time for a U.S. Women’s Open Moving Day, but the conditions weren’t nearly as friendly as the round’s backdrop looked. 

Saturday at Pebble Beach was a true U.S. Open test.

Wind gusts reached 27 mph and the greens firmed into their bounciest conditions yet. One amateur carded a quintuple bogey 9 on the par-four 8th and another player turned in a 15-over-par 87. 

Only six players now remain under par for the championship, and only 11 players of the remaining 74 in the field broke par on Saturday.

Japan’s Nasa Hataoka was among that bunch, but her round should perhaps be placed in a separate category. The six-time LPGA champion didn’t just break par on Saturday—she shattered it. 

Hataoka shot a six-under 66, the lowest of the championship thus far and the best score of the day by a stunning four shots. No player has even turned in a five-under 67 yet this week at Pebble Beach. 

Talk about making a move! 🤯

Nasa Hataoka takes a share of the lead after her sixth birdie of the day. #USWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/nVmbptLdsB

— U.S. Women's Open (@uswomensopen) July 9, 2023

The result saw Hataoka’s name skyrocket up the leaderboard to take sole possession of first place at seven under par with one round to play. Allisen Corpuz, the USC product from Kapolei, Hawaii, sits one back at six under after a third-round 71. Kim Hyo-joo and the 36-hole leader, Bailey Tardy, trail by three at four under. 

While Corpuz, Kim, Tardy and others hung in tight, Hatoaka was busy putting together a dominant bogey-free round that bested the field’s average of 74.69 by almost nine shots. Yes, nine. 

Hataoka’s strokes gained statistics—which are available this week for the first time in the history of women’s professional golf—reveal which aspects of her game lead the way. 

The 24-year-old might have ranked 21st in driving distance with an average of 246.4 yards off the tee, but her short game was the star of the show on Saturday. Hataoka lead the field in strokes gained short game and strokes gained putting. 

She hit 12 of 18 greens in regulation and only had 24 putts on Saturday. 

The numbers apparently check out, as Hatoaka revealed that she has been fine-tuning her stroke in recent weeks. 

“Actually from about three weeks ago with the assistance of my coach, I was able to change my strategy. I would say that prior to that I felt that my strokes were not as good as they should have been, and I didn't think that the way the ball was tumbling around, that was not very stable beforehand. But thanks to the work I started three weeks ago, I think I was able to manage very well today,” Hataoka shared through an English translator after her round. 

The native of Kasama, Japan also stunned with her wedges. One of the loudest roars of the day could be heard after she holed a chip on the par-4 16th. She judged the severe break in expert fashion, her ball just barely slipping in the right side of the cup. 

What a shot! What a round!

Nasa Hataoka makes her fifth birdie of the day. #USWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/ODGscVwVnS

— U.S. Women's Open (@uswomensopen) July 9, 2023

Hataoka is no stranger to major championship Sundays. Sunday’s round will likely remind the 24-year-old of the 2021 Women’s Open at The Olympic Club, where she lost in an aggregate playoff to the young Yuka Saso. 

Looking ahead to the final stretch, Hataoka hopes to ride the momentum of her field-crushing 66, all while using her prior experience to her advantage. 

“Well, certainly there was that experience from two years ago at the Olympic Club and then also the KPMG Playoffs when I did not win. However, I have that experience from those past tournaments, and so I want to be true to myself, and I want to rely on the help that I receive from my staff and all the people around me and do my best,” she said.