World No. 1 Nelly Korda secured her first U.S. Women’s Open title on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the historic Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, ending a 13-year pursuit of the championship.
Korda closed with a 2-under 69 to finish at 8-under par (276 total), holding off Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez by a single stroke.
This victory marks Korda’s 19th LPGA career win and her fourth major championship title, further cementing her dominance as the game’s preeminent star after winning her second consecutive major of the season.
The triumph in the Pacific Palisades carried immense emotional weight for the 27-year-old, who first competed in this event in 2013 as a 14-year-old at Sebonack. For over a decade, the U.S.
Women’s Open had been a source of frustration, characterized by missed cuts and near-misses, most notably a “heartbreaking” runner-up finish at Erin Hills in 2025.
By hoisting the trophy on Sunday, Korda became the first player to win the event at the 100-year-old Riviera, which was hosting the championship for the first time in Los Angeles County.
Korda’s final act was a masterclass in resilience, punctuated by a nerve-wracking par putt on the 72nd hole. After hitting her approach to 35 feet, she left herself a 34-inch tester to clinch the title.
Korda watched as the ball hit the left lip of the cup, spiraled around, and eventually dropped to avoid a playoff. “Don’t make me relive that again,” a visibly relieved Korda told Cara Banks while wearing the Mickey Wright Medal.
She admitted that the pressure of the moment was so intense that she could “barely feel” her hands when making the stroke.
Overcoming Riviera struggles and early tournament deficits
The road to victory was far from a wire-to-wire stroll. Korda opened the week with a disappointing 2-over par 73, leaving her seven shots adrift of the lead after the first round. In previous years, such a start might have derailed her campaign, but the American remained composed. Much like how com/latest-sport-news-updates-miami-open-world-cup-aintree-2026/”>top-tier athletes across various sports must bounce back from early deficits, Korda responded with the low round of the day on Friday, a 4-under 67, to surge back into contention.
Her weekend performance was equally clinical. She followed her Friday charge with another 67 on Saturday, closing with three consecutive birdies to enter the final round with a share of the lead.
The consistency she displayed on a demanding Riviera layout was the difference-maker, as many of her rivals struggled to maintain pace during the Sunday afternoon sun. Korda averaged 267.4 yards off the tee on Sunday, showcasing her power on the iconic 100-year-old course.
On Sunday morning, Korda received a boost of inspiration from Tiger Woods, who sent a text message telling her to “Finish it off today.” This encouraged Korda to stick to her personal routine of writing positive affirmations on bathroom mirror sticky notes. Her final message to herself before heading to the first tee was a simple reminder: “Whatever happens happens. Just give it 100 percent.”
Clutch putting and scrambling secure the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open
The lead fluctuated throughout the final afternoon as Charley Hull and In Gee Chun each made aggressive charges. At one point, In Gee Chun held a two-shot lead with just six holes remaining. Korda, however, stayed patient, recording nine straight pars from holes eight through 16 while her competitors began to falter.
This display of technical precision mirrors the focus seen in specialized training drills where elite competitors refine their skills under immense pressure.
The turning point arrived at the par-5 17th hole. Tied for the lead, Korda found the fairway and despite pulling her approach into the left rough, managed a chip that left her with a 9-foot birdie putt. She converted the chance to take a one-shot lead into the final hole.
Her short game was her savior; Korda tied for the lead in scrambling with a 100% success rate on Sunday, getting up and down 24 times out of 30 across the tournament.
Despite the shaky nature of her final 2 1/2-foot par putt on the 18th, Korda’s statistics for the week were historical. No winner in the last 20 years had won a U.S. Women’s Open hitting fewer greens.
However, her flawless performance from short range at Riviera eventually nullified the “dagger in her heart” she felt after failing to catch Maja Stark during the 2025 championship at Erin Hills.
Record prize money and the LPGA Hall of Fame
This victory significantly bolsters Korda’s legacy and her quest for the LPGA Hall of Fame. By winning her fourth major, she earned two points toward the 27 needed for induction, bringing her career total to 25. Her $2.5 million winner’s check set a new record for the highest prize ever awarded at the U.S. Women’s Open, coming from a record-setting total purse of $12.5 million.
The significance of winning at Riviera, an iconic venue where her name will now sit alongside the Ben Hogan trophy, was not lost on Korda. The World No. 1 admitted she felt as though she were in a dream.
She reflected on her journey from being a 14-year-old girl on the range in 2013 to standing next to the most important trophy in the women’s game.
Looking forward, Korda’s win establishes her as the definitive face of American golf. Having overcome the “doubts” she admitted to having even mid-round on Sunday, she now moves within two points of eternal eligibility. The conversation has now shifted from whether she could secure this specific major to how many more Korda can accumulate as she continues her dominant 2026 campaign.
