For the second time in 2026, and the fourth time in her career, Nelly Korda won a major championship, this time, the U.S. Women’s Open played at The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
Korda came into the day tied for the lead at -6 with Sei Young Kim, and got started quick with a birdie. Korda wasn’t making it easy on herself, leaving shaky par looks throughout the front nine.
At this time, Charley Hull was making a serious move despite starting the day three strokes back. She was -5 through 11 and playing with a strong rhythm as usually is the case. Three time major winner In Gee Chun was also doing a phenomenal job scrambling, at one point taking a two-stroke lead on the back nine.
After some mistakes from Hull and Chun, Gaby López emerged as Korda’s closest competitor after three birdies on the back nine, but López ran out of steam late and needed to make a long birdie putt on 18 to get into the clubhouse at -7.
Korda played calm, smart golf. She made pars on the difficult stretch from 12-15, while playing in the most difficult conditions of the week. On 17 she had a career-definining moment, stepping up and hitting a strong seven-foot putt to take a one-stroke lead into 18.
On the last, Korda was left with a three footer to win the U.S. Women’s Open. While she made it, it certainly wasn’t the most confident stroke of the day, as it caught every part of the hole before falling in.
This is Korda’s fourth win of the year. She is the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win the first two majors of the year. Korda now has 19 LPGA Tour wins overall and four major titles. She becomes the youngest (27) American since Mickey Wright in 1960.
Korda will next tee it up with her friend Olivia Cowan at the Dow Championship, where a win would grant her membership into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
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