Welcome to this week’s Golf Insider, everyone!
Can we all just take a breather? The 81st U.S. Women’s Open at The Riviera Country Club was heart-stopping down to the very last putt.
On Sunday, June 7, Nelly Korda claimed her elusive U.S. Women’s Open (USWO) win, adding yet another accomplishment to her already incredible 2026. It’s her fourth major title and second of the season. Korda shot a final-round 69 (-2) to win the championship at 8-under-par, one stroke ahead of Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez.
But how she got there was a bit dramatic. Korda began the week with a first-round 73 (+2), and it looked like it might just be another year of the same. With Korda’s USWO history, it could have gone poorly from there on out. Korda, though, with her changed mindset and newfound belief, knew that a comeback was possible.
The World No. 1 fired consecutive rounds of 4-under-par (67) on Friday and Saturday to get herself into contention and yet another final pairing in an LPGA Tour event. In her Sunday final round, Korda posted three birdies, one bogey and several clutch pars en route to her victory.
Her back nine performances this week were prime examples of why Korda continues to win these kinds of tournaments. She’s consistent, calm and cool under pressure, especially coming down the stretch. Her short game was as solid as ever, and a birdie on No. 17 helped her to move into the lead one shot clear of the field.
And then, the dreaded winning putt. It doesn’t need more words to describe it. The videos of the ball swirling around the edge of the cup and pictures of Korda’s reaction do it justice.
But hey, the putt went in after all. Things are starting to feel automatic; Nelly’s going to be in the final group on Sunday, and she’s going to win. Let me just take a minute to direct your attention to this post from the LPGA:
In eight starts this season, Korda has four wins. She only has one finish worse than second place, and it was still a finish inside the top 10. Korda’s game is on another level, even when she doesn’t feel at her best.
“This week was definitely a grind. I don’t even feel like I had my B game,” Korda laughed during her post-win press conference on June 7.
“I was just grinding out there. And that’s what I guess major championships are all about, right? It doesn’t matter if you have your B or C game, you have to be there mentally.”
I talked extensively about Korda’s changed mentality after she won The Chevron Championship in April and how optimism and positivity have helped her play with more freedom than ever. For some professionals, playing an entire season with their best game and still not getting a win would discourage them. It did the opposite for Korda.
Korda came out of the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills not with a win but with a runner-up finish that made her want more.
“Last year was just a weird year of not necessarily playing my best, but also when I did, not getting the bounces or just missing by a centimeter here and there. But I also learned a lot about myself. It made me hungrier to be in those positions,” Korda said on June 2 in a pre-tournament press conference.
When she’s at her best, Korda knows that her so-called “B game” can win her tournaments. Ultimately, she’s trusting in both her mental game and her support system to get her through those tougher rounds. It certainly has made a difference in 2026.
Nelly slays the dragon, cements her place in history with more milestones
Korda ticked off many firsts and achievements with her maiden U.S. Women’s Open win, both overall and as an American. She’s the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win the first two majors of the LPGA Tour season. Korda now finds herself in good company among American women’s golf legends, too.
Korda joins Annika Sorenstam and Inbee Park as the third player to win the U.S. Women’s Open while being ranked No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. The 27-year-old also became the first player since Sung Hyun Park in 2017 to open the U.S. Women’s Open with a 73 or higher and go on to win the tournament. Korda also tied the most strokes behind the leader at the end of the first round by the eventual USWO winner (seven), further proving her full display of grit and determination.
It’s even more evident after this win that Nelly Korda is the best player in the game.
The chasers
Let’s take a minute to appreciate the chasers and the finish they gave us at this year’s USWO. After all, if that Korda ice cream swirl didn’t find its way into the bottom of the cup, we would have had a three-way playoff for the ages.
Charley Hull did what she does best and chased the leader on a major championship Sunday. After shooting a blistering 65 (-6) on Saturday to propel herself up the leaderboard, Hull opened her final round with an eagle on the par-5 1st hole. She birdied holes No. 3 and 6 on her way to a 3-under-par 32.
But a few bogeys on her back nine set her back to 6-under-par, and Hull had to fight to move back to the top of the leaderboard. On No. 18, two holes ahead of the final group, Hull scrambled for a clutch par to enter the clubhouse with the lead at 7-under. Her final-round 67 was tied for the lowest round of the day.
Gaby Lopez’s chase was similar, but she carded a birdie on the 18th hole to tie the leaders at 7-under-par. Lopez was intense, fiery and determined the entire tournament but especially during her final round. The possibility of the playoff was very much on the horizon. Both she and Hull refused to go down without a fight.
For Hull, it was the fifth time she’s finished runner-up in a major championship, still without a victory. She says that she loves the feeling of being in contention on major Sundays, but coming up short still takes a toll.
“It’s just frustrating. Another second place. I think that’s five second place finishes I’ve had in majors now,” the World No. 15 said after her round on June 7.
“So, yeah, it’s pretty annoying, but I played really well the last day. Obviously missed a couple putts on the back nine, but it was quite windy and I hit the ball fantastic. But I just love playing in the majors.”
With Hull cracking the top-three in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings earlier this year, becoming the highest ranked English player in the rankings’ history, I have no doubt her major time will come soon.
For Lopez, it was her best finish in an LPGA Tour major championship. She made history for her country as well, tying the best finish in the USWO by a player from Mexico. Lopez shares that honor with none other than LPGA icon Lorena Ochoa, who tied for second place in 2007. This performance in Los Angeles meant a lot for Lopez.
“Very proud and just having so many Mexican people around listening to my name, it just filled me so much,” Lopez said after her final round on June 7.
“It filled me like I never felt before. I’m so excited that we’re playing the Olympic Games here in 2028. I’m just looking forward to a Latin crowd, the L.A. crowd, and hopefully we come for more.”
The amateurs
Of course, we have to shine light on the amateurs as well. Two amateurs stole the show, finishing in the top-10 overall. World Amateur No. 1 Kiara Romero tied for sixth place and won low amateur honors. She shot a final-round 68 to finish at 3-under-par for the tournament.
Right behind her was 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion María José Marín. She shot a final-round 71 to finish tied for eighth place. This is Marín’s second top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour this year.
Both Romero and Marín earned two points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) standings, bringing their totals to 16 and 15, respectively.
It was a big week on the biggest stage. More majors are on the horizon, with the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the end of the month. And in just around a month, we’ll be heading across the pond to my favorite setting for golf: links courses. We’re just getting started.
See you next week, golf fans.
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Five at The IX: Quotes from the top three at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera
2026 U.S. Women’s Open champion Nelly Korda on her renewed belief that she could win this tournament:
“Every year I like never played well. I was always over par or I made a mess of a hole at Lancaster, and I just felt like that dream was almost kind of like slipping away. But it was still keeping me very much so motivated.
“Being in the chase at Erin Hills, I kind of turned the corner of, okay, like can I be in the hunt, I can do this, I can play and I can contend at a U.S. Women’s Open. I can put the dream aside and focus on what’s right in front of me. I really tried to focus on that today.”
Charley Hull (T-2) on using this motivation going into the next major:
“Well, I finished now top 10 in the last two major championships, and I’ve had a win this year, so just kind of gather my thoughts together and just play the way I did the weekend on the first two days at the KPMG and take that mentality into the next two rounds as well.”
Hull on the major championship feel:
“But when it comes to major week, I just love it. Like if I just even just make the cut I have like at the weekend I can make a massive charge. But, no, I loved it out there. It was so much fun.”
Gaby Lopez (T-2) on her back nine momentum and mindset shift:
“I just reminded myself as soon as I step on the green I’m like, Gaby, it’s all pace. It’s all pace. It’s not about the ball actually going in the hole. It’s about the right speed every single time. That paid off with patience.”
Lopez on her emotions post-tournament:
“I feel amazing, honestly. I mean I’m not disappointed at all. I am so happy. I realize that I can win a major championship. I realize that I can put myself in a position that down the stretch on the back nine of a major championship I can still deliver.
“There’s not one thing that I regret. There is so much that I’m happy, I’m proud, and I’m looking forward to KPMG. Nelly Korda played spectacular golf, she’s been week in week out. We just have to be a little tighter in a couple weeks and hopefully one day it’s our chance.”
‘Rare Gems’ is out now!
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, wrote this deeply reported book. “Rare Gems” follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
If you enjoy Megdal’s coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX Sports, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.”
Soccer: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer
Tennis: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer
Basketball: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The IX Sports
Softball: Maren Angus-Coombs, @Maren-Angus, The IX Sports
Golf: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX Sports
Hockey: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden
Gymnastics: Jessica Taylor Price, @jesstaylorprice, Freelance Writer
