At Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Nelly Korda secured her maiden US Women's Open title with clutch putts on the final two holes: a birdie on No. 17 and a par on No. 18, clinching victory on Sunday.
Nelly Korda clinched victory at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on June 8, securing the U.S. Women's Open title after sinking a crucial birdie putt on No. 17 and a par putt on No. 18 on Sunday.
Related ↗Red Bull's F1 engine performance leaves ADUO stunned.Nelly Korda emerged victorious in the US Women's Open, achieving her goal on her twelfth attempt after posting a 2-under par score of 69. England's Charley Hull and Mexico's Gaby Lopez trailed closely behind with scores of 67 and 68 respectively, joining South Korea's In Gee Chun in a thrilling four-way contest that went down to the wire.
As she lined up the shot, Korda sensed that making the birdie putt on No. 17 on Sunday would catapult her into uncharted territory in her golfing career.
Read next ↗Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering triumphs in the women's Giro d'Italia, completing a rare feat.Moments after securing her victory, Nelly Korda faced a crucial moment of truth as she prepared to sink a 34-inch par putt on the 18th hole, only to be met with uncertainty.
As Nelly Korda's putt approached the hole, it veered sharply to the left, but miraculously bounced off the left rim and spun around to drop into the cup from an unexpected angle, securing her thrilling win. The dramatic turn of events caught the attention of Hull and Lopez in the clubhouse, who anxiously watched for a potential playoff spot.
Korda acknowledged her nerves got the better of her initially, causing her shot to veer off course slightly to the left. Her racing heartbeat was a palpable sign of the pressure she felt in that moment.
Nelly Korda boasts an impressive four major championships to her name, with two of those triumphs already secured this year. Her notable win came at the Chevron Championship last month.
Winning at Riviera was a lifelong aspiration for Nelly Korda, who expressed her awe at being part of its storied legacy. The devastating 2025 fire that ravaged the Pacific Palisades neighborhood only added to the significance of this triumph. Her name now joins an illustrious list of champions.
Contender Lopez surged forward with a burst of four consecutive birdies on the final stretch.
Sei Young Kim of South Korea secured fifth place, two strokes behind the leader, with a score of 5 under par. Meanwhile, Chun's bid for victory fell short as she narrowly missed a crucial 8-foot putt at the final hole, resulting in her third bogey over seven holes. Her four birdies were not enough to overcome Korda's lead.
Nelly Korda's closest competitor, Kim, accumulated four birdies amidst five bogeying rounds yesterday.
Nelly Korda was tied for the lead after Hull sank a crucial 7-foot birdie putt on No. 17, moving to 7 under par. Meanwhile, Lopez's momentum stalled when she narrowly missed a 4-foot par putt at the challenging par-3 16th hole, slipping one shot behind the pace.
Nelly Korda kept pace with the leaders after sinking a crucial 9-foot, 7-inch par putt on the 18th hole. Later in the round, Lopez broke the tie with a clutch 15-foot birdie putt that sealed her position at the top.
Taking a crucial shot, Nelly Korda seized control with a clutch putt on the 17th hole, securing a vital birdie and solo lead. Her impressive round featured three notable birdies, offset by a single bogey.
Korda reflected on her strategy, recalling the crucial moment when she realized making the putt was essential. She anticipated a rapid roll and deliberately imparted sufficient speed to counteract the left-to-right break.
Fist pumps aren't my usual thing, but I let loose a few times over the weekend. A couple of celebratory gestures were thrown along with an extra-special one on that particular hole - it was a moment to savor.
Nelly Korda's opening round was nothing short of spectacular, as she carded a remarkable 4-under-par start over the initial six holes, including an eagle on the par-5 first hole and consecutive birdies on numbers three and six. A lone bogey on nine momentarily derailed her momentum before she regained composure with back-to-back birdies on ten and eleven.
Korda faltered on holes 12 and 14, while Hull accumulated a total of eight under par with an eagle included.
Nelly Korda's major drought persists, with four runner-up finishes under her belt, including a notable solo second and tied-for-third result in previous tournaments.
Hull expressed her discontent with another runner-up finish, stating that it's particularly vexing given its frequency - she now has five second-place finishes in major tournaments. Her performance on the final day was impressive, despite missing a few crucial putts on the back nine due to challenging wind conditions.
Following her impressive performance at the tournament, Lopez felt a mix of relief and disappointment simultaneously.
Lopez expressed unbridled joy, her emotions genuine and heartfelt. She acknowledged no disappointment, instead reveling in her triumph. Recognizing she has what it takes to win a major title was a significant realization for Lopez. Her confidence grew with each passing hole on the back nine of the championship. With no regrets to weigh her down, Lopez basked in the glory of her achievement.
At the US Women's Open, collegiate standout Kiara Romero from Oregon earned low amateur honors with a score of 68, tying her for sixth place alongside Japan's Nasa Hataoka, who carded a 72 at 3-under 281. Romero's round featured five birdies and two bogeys, whereas Hataoka had three birdies and four bogey marks.
Maja Stark, the Swedish defending champion, concluded her tournament with a score of 71, ultimately securing an eighth-place finish tied with five others at 2-under 282. Meanwhile, Maria Jose Marin from Colombia achieved the same 2-under result after carding a respectable 71.
Among those vying for second place, three golfers stood out: Allisen Corpuz at 2 under par with a score of 71, Ruoning Yin from China at 73, and Pajaree Anannarukarn from Thailand at 67.
Nelly Korda's dominance was evident as Kupcho stumbled early, racking up three bogeys within the opening seven holes. Her total count stood at five bogeys, offset by a pair of impressive birdies.
