World No. 1 Nelly Korda has finally claimed the U.S. Women's Open trophy, a title that had eluded her more than any other. On Sunday, Korda shot a 2-under 69 to finish at 8-under at Riviera Country Club, edging out Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez, who both finished at 7-under. This victory marks her fourth career major title, her second of 2026, and her 19th LPGA win overall.
How did Nelly Korda win the U.S. Women's Open at Riviera?
The week did not start smoothly for Korda. She opened with a 2-over 73 on Thursday, struggling with her tee shots. However, a range session that afternoon, where her sister Jessica noticed something in her grip, turned things around. Korda made an adjustment, and her ball-striking immediately improved. She followed with back-to-back 67s to co-lead with Sei Young Kim heading into Sunday.
The final round tested her once again. Her irons were inconsistent, putts kept sliding past, and Charley Hull was charging hard with a 32 on her front nine. For a stretch, it appeared that Riviera might slip away from Korda for the 12th time. But she held firm. Par after par, she refused to give Hull or Lopez an opening. Then came the par-5 17th, where she drained a 9-foot birdie to take a one-shot lead into the last hole. On 18, she hammered a 288-yard drive uphill, hit her approach to 35 feet, and lagged her putt to just over two feet. The ball circled the lip before dropping in. She laughed, covered her mouth, and raised her arms as chants of "Nelly" filled the green.
What does this win mean for Nelly Korda's career and personal life?
The U.S. Women's Open was to Korda what the Masters was for Rory McIlroy before his 2025 Grand Slam — the one major that kept getting away. She had missed three cuts since 2020, finished runner-up last year at Erin Hills, and endured years of visible frustration at this event. Sunday changed all of that. With three majors still remaining this season, the calendar Grand Slam is still in play. She also earned two LPGA Hall of Fame points and now sits at 25, just two shy of the 27 needed for eligibility.
Off the course, Korda is deep in wedding planning. She and fiancé Casey Gunderson, whom she first met at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, got engaged last November. "He's amazing, he's probably the best support system," Korda said. "He always has my back." Asked about the planning process, she kept it real: "It's very stressful." For now, though, the trophy is what matters. Korda came to Riviera with unfinished business and left with the one title she needed most.
