Nelly Korda triumphed on Sunday at the US Women's Open, sealing the victory with a clutch birdie on the 17th to win by one stroke at Riviera Country Club. The world number one prevailed in a true thriller against England's Charley Hull and Mexico's Gaby Lopez, claiming her long-awaited first US Open title — simultaneously her fourth major and second this year (2026), following her victory at the Chevron Championship in April.
What a test of nerves on the course at Pacific Palisades, which is set to host the Olympic Games in 2028! Korda shot a 69 (-2), finishing with a total of 276 strokes (-8). She remained composed, while Hull, Lopez, and South Korea's Chun In-Gee put immense pressure on her. After the nine-foot birdie on the penultimate hole, which gave her a narrow lead, there was another heart-stopping moment on the final hole: Her three-foot putt for par danced around the cup before finally dropping in. In tears, a visibly emotional Korda declared at the awards ceremony: “I can’t put into words how much this means to me.”
Charley Hull also delivered a phenomenal round. The Englishwoman, who had catapulted herself back into contention with a strong 65 on Saturday, followed up with a 67 (-4), finishing with a total of 277 strokes (-7). She also birdied the 17th and holed a nine-foot putt for par on the 18th to keep her hopes alive. Ultimately, however, she had to settle for a runner-up finish for the fifth time in a major.
Gaby Lopez shot a 68 (-3) and briefly grabbed a share of the clubhouse lead with her fourth birdie of the day on the 18th, only to be overtaken by Korda. South Korea's Chun In-Gee, who won her first of three major titles at the US Women's Open in 2015, even held a two-stroke lead after back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th. But then she made bogeys on the 12th and 13th and missed an eight-foot putt for par on the 18th. Her 70 (-1) was enough for solo fourth place with a total of 278 strokes (-6). One stroke behind was compatriot Kim Sei-young, who had started the day tied for the lead with Korda, but faltered with a 72 (+1) to finish.
