Nelly Korda Wins 2026 US Women's Open at Riviera

A Putt That Nearly Gave Us All Heart Attacks

I've seen some nerve-wracking finishes in my years covering professional golf, but watching Nelly Korda's final putt on Sunday at Riviera had me holding my breath along with everyone else in the gallery. From just over two feet away, her par putt caught the edge and toured – I kid you not – half the circumference of the hole before finally dropping in.

Korda's reaction said it all. Hand over her open mouth, disbelief written across her face, before breaking into the kind of laugh that only comes when you've just dodged a bullet the size of a major championship. That moment perfectly encapsulated what made this US Women's Open so captivating – even the world's dominant player isn't immune to the pressure.

Back-to-Back Majors Cement Her Status

With this victory, Korda now owns four career major titles, having won The Chevron Championship just two months ago in April. The 27-year-old American claimed the $2.5 million winner's share from a record $12.5 million purse, but the money almost feels secondary to what this win represents.

Consider her season so far: three victories, three second-place finishes in her first seven starts. After going completely winless in 2025 – a year that seemed to puzzle everyone in the golf world – Korda has come roaring back with one of the most dominant stretches we've seen in recent memory.

"I feel like I'm in a dream," Korda told the gallery after her win. "I just can't even explain how much this means to me with all of you here cheering me on."

A Rocky Start, A Steady Finish

Here's the thing about great champions – they find ways to grind when things aren't clicking. Korda's opening-round 73 wasn't pretty, and in a quirky footnote, she actually changed out of a pair of Nike shoes given to her by LeBron James during that round. Whatever the issue was, she sorted it out quickly.

Back-to-back 67s in rounds two and three put her right in the mix, and her final-round 69 proved to be just enough. What impressed me most was her composure on the back nine – she was the only player among the leaders to avoid a bogey when the Pacific winds kicked up and turned Riviera into a roller coaster.

Three birdies, one bogey, and a whole lot of steady, patient golf. Korda has emphasized positivity and mental steadiness after her struggles in 2025, and watching her on Sunday, you could see that philosophy in action.

Hull and Lopez Fall Agonizingly Short

I have to give tremendous credit to Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez, who both came up just one shot short of their first major championships. Hull, representing England, started the day three shots back but charged into the lead before the wind made everything difficult. Both players posted excellent final rounds and have nothing to hang their heads about.

The leaderboard was packed all day, with seven players within two strokes of the lead to start Sunday. At one point, four players shared the top spot. In Gee Chun, the three-time major champion, was also right there in the mix before Korda's birdie on 17 – a clutch 9-footer – finally created separation.

Historic Venue, Historic Victory

This marked the first Women's Open ever held at Riviera Country Club, and the classic layout proved to be a worthy test. The course showed its teeth on Sunday afternoon, and only the steadiest hands survived.

Korda's win continues American dominance at the US Women's Open and cements her position as the clear number one player in women's golf right now. After an inexplicable off-year, she's answered every question about whether she could return to form.

Key Takeaways

Korda's fourth major and second consecutive, following The Chevron Championship in April
One-shot victory over Charley Hull (England) and Gaby Lopez (Mexico)
Record purse of $12.5 million, with $2.5 million going to the winner
First US Women's Open ever contested at Riviera Country Club
Korda's remarkable 2026: three wins, three runner-up finishes in seven starts