Danielle Kang Playing U.S. Ladies’ Open With Tumor on Spine

• Danielle Kang played the first two rounds of the U.S. Ladies’ Open with a cancer on her spine.
• The world No. 12 says she learned of the conclusion “half a month prior” Kang’s tests are inconclusive as to whether the cancer is dangerous or harmless.

Danielle Kang intends to have further tests one week from now and is dubious how much playing time she will miss.

“I’ve gone through a lot of procedures so far and with the process of elimination we are narrowing it down,” Kang said. “It’s going to take time.”

The American shot a 3-north of 74 on Friday after an opening-cycle 71 at Pine Needles and was around the cut line with the midday wave on the course.

Kang has been managing back torment since early April, when she pulled out from the Lotte Championship. She pulled out of the Palos Verdes Championship sometime thereafter and hasn’t contended since.

“My goal right now is to get through this week,” Kang said. “I wanted to make the cut. I wanted to play four rounds out here and then my focus was going to be getting better after that. The only thing on my mind has been to play the U.S. Open.”

Kang said she didn’t want to publicize the issue but word began to leak out.

“I just don’t want to discuss the details of what is going on with my back,” she said. “My priority one is to be pain-free and right now I’m not there yet.”

When asked how she felt playing on Friday, Kang laughed and said, “I’m not feeling fantastic, but I’m playing golf, so that is good. I’m good enough to play and all I wanted to compete.”

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“My objective right presently is to overcome this week,” Kang said. “I needed to take care of business. I needed to play four balances here and afterward my center would have been getting better after that. The main thing at the forefront of my thoughts has been to play the U.S. Open.”

Kang said she would have rather not advertised the issue yet word started to spill out.

“I just don’t want to discuss the details of what is going on with my back,” she said. “My priority one is to be pain-free and right now I’m not there yet.”

When asked how she felt playing on Friday, Kang laughed and said, “I’m not feeling fantastic, but I’m playing golf, so that is good. I’m good enough to play and all I wanted to compete.”

Beyond a triple intruder on No. 1, Kang said she is content with the manner in which she played Friday considering she hasn’t polished in “eight or nine weeks.”

Kang turned expert in 2011 and has won six LPGA Tour occasions, including one significant, the 2017 Women’s PGA Championship. She has more than $7.5 million in vocation profit.