Donald Trump's arrival at the US Women's Open in New Jersey on Friday delighted spectators - but left the players themselves feeling under par.

Trump visited his Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey, where the competition was being held, and was greeted with chants of 'Make America Great Again' from his thrilled fans.

But the noise - during a sport in which silence is mandatory from crowds - and the pressure of playing under the president's gaze, was too much for some of the competitors, The New York Times reported.

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Upstaged: Donald Trump upstaged the players at the US Women's Open on Friday when he made a surprise visit. It is being held at his Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey

Put off: Lexi Thompson (left) and Lauren Stephenson (right) were both distracted - Thompson because the president was watching her and Stephenson because of cheering fans

Fanfare: Trump's supporters cheered him, much to the annoyance of staff. It's traditional to remain quiet during golf, so players can focus

Trump arrived during play on the 15th hole, as Lexi Thompson, the highest-ranked US women's player and third best in the world, was preparing to hit the ball.

Thompson herself didn't realize until she noticed that the crowds had all turned their back on her to gaze at Trump as he peered out from a viewing room close to the 14th, 15th and 16th holes.

But the president himself was watching her - and even though she's been known to play a round or two against him before, Thompson lost her nerve under the pressure.

'I didn't have the best shot in front of him,' said Thompson, who hurried her chip and is now seven shots behind the second-round leader, Shanshan Feng.

Things became worse during the 16th hole, when fans began cheering Trump, who stood at the window and gave them a hearty thumbs-up.

Video shows the crowds shouting 'Make America Great Again!' and 'Mr President!'

'Guys, we still have play going on, folks, all right?' a staff member says from off-camera - to little effect.

The noise was not ideal for American Lauren Stephenson, a 20-year-old amateur who is at even par through 36 holes.

'It was definitely a little distracting,' she said. 'We had a lot of people yelling and just a lot of movement, but it's pretty cool to be in the presence of the president, so I guess he gets a pass.'

Star of the show: Trump gave a thumbs up and raised his fist in salute a people called out to him and shouted 'Make America Great Again!' - to the annoyance of course staff

Greetings: Melania Trump had dinner with her husband at the golf club - though she didn't join him to view the game

In the lead: China's Shanshan Feng finished the day ahead of the rest. She said she concentrated so much that the cheering for Trump didn't bother her

Brooke Henderson, who is tied for 10th place, was also sanguine about her presidential upstaging.

'It's really amazing that the president of the United States is here to watch us play golf and on a tremendous golf course,' she said. 'I'm really excited and it was a great opportunity.'

The USGA, which awarded this event to Trump in 2012, took a lot of criticism for failing to move the tournament when comments made by Trump about women came to light in the past year.

It also was suggested that if the president attended the event it would take the spotlight from the players.

It did Friday when he became the first sitting president to attend a US Women's Open.

Warren G. Harding (1921) and Bill Clinton (1997) were the only other sitting presidents to attend USGA events, going to the US Open.

President aside, Feng was the star on the course for the second straight day.

The 27-year-old Chinese player shot a two-under 70 and had a 36-hole total of eight-under 136.

The 6,732-yard course played even longer because of rain over the past two days. Feng, who has had one bogey in 36 holes, didn't see Trump.

'I heard people like kind of screaming so that's what I was trying to find out, like why they were screaming,' she said. 'But I was still really focusing on my game. I didn't really get distracted.'

President Donald Trump looks to the crowd as he leaves his viewing stand at the competition on Friday. He's the first sitting president to attend the Women's Open

Putt on: South Korea's Seon Woo Bae reacts after putting on the 18th green during the second round of the tournament

The swing of things: Cristie Kerr, of the United States, tees off the first hole on Friday. Players traveled from all over the world to join Kerr and other Americans in the sport

Amy Yang of South Korea remained in second place, although her deficit grew to two shots after a 71. Yang has four top-five finishes in the event in the past five years.

'I like where I am positioned right now,' Yang said. 'I'm really looking forward to play the weekend. I'm hitting good and I'm putting good and I'm feeling good about my game right now.'

Jeongeun6 Lee, who has a victory and 10 top-10 finishes this season on the KLPGA Tour, shared second after posting a second straight 69.

Lee uses the '6' after her first name because there are six other South Korean players with the same name.

Hye-Jin Choi, a 17-year-old from South Korea who is the world's second-ranked amateur, also was at six under after a second straight 69.

She was tied with Feng at eight under after 15 holes, but bogeyed two of her next three holes to fall back.

Choi said her goal this week was to make the cut.

'So, I'm already very happy with what I'm doing and I'm not going to feel any pressure,' she said through an interpreter. 'Just here to have fun.'

Cheers to you: President Donald Trump looks to people cheering from the clubhouse on Friday. Video shows staff trying - and failing - to silence his fans

Talented amateur: South Korea's Hye-Jin Choi is the world's second-ranked amateur, and was tied with Feng up to the 15th hole, but bogeyed two of the next three holes

Only one amateur has won the Women's Open: Catherine Lacoste of France in 1967.

Seon Woo Bae, a winner in South Korea last year, was alone in fifth place at 5 under after a 69.

Top-ranked So Yeon Ryu (72) and 2015 winner In Gee Chun (70) topped the group at 4 under, while Marina Alex (70) of Wayne, New Jersey, was the top American at three under. Henderson (71) and Lydia Ko (73) also were three under.

Michelle Wie withdrew because of a neck injury. The 2014 winner shot a 73 on Thursday and stopped on her second hole Friday.

Among those missing the cut at two over was Brittany Lincicome, who said two weeks ago that Trump should not attend the tournament so the focus would be on the players.

Danielle Kang, who two weeks ago won the KPMG Women's PGA, was also out, as was Lincicome, who finished at five over and called her week horrible.

Second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn and two-time Open champion Inbee Park also missed the cut.