Unraveling Nelly Korda’s US Women’s Open victory
Check in every week for the unfiltered views of our writers and editors as they analyze the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, our writers break down everything from Nelly Korda’s US Women’s Open win at Riviera.
1. Nelly Korda continued her reign in 2026, by winning the US Women’s Open at Riviera for her fourth win of the season, fourth major title and, most importantly, first US Women’s Open title. What did you learn about Nelly as she spent time playing on a beautiful Sunday in LA?
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): He continues to do one of the hardest things to do in any sport, which is to win when everyone expects you to. He has now finished first or second in seven of his eight starts this season and kept one truly exciting story — a season-long grand slam — alive for a few more weeks. It’s really amazing how he continued to connect on Sunday, continue to hit fairways and not make mistakes. That puts a lot of pressure on the people playing next to you, as they know they have to move because there is little chance of Nelly Korda messing up. And it’s really hard to make a lot of birdies at US Opens.
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): I think this is “uneducated,” but perhaps most assured – that he is willing to re-examine it. In his press conference Saturday night, Korda spoke of the recent “change of mind,” saying “instead of, you know, I’m frustrated at this position, oh, here we go again, I’m just going to accept challenges and I’m not going to walk off the golf course; I’m going to make that clear.” Maybe something small, but clearly something clicked, and the fact that you put in the work here is amazing.
Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): I don’t know if I learned anything new about Nelly Korda, but watching her navigate what was arguably the scariest cycle of her life on Sunday showed me that she is exactly who many of us thought and hoped she would be. Her talent was always undeniable, but winning Chevrons and KPMGs is different than winning the US Women’s Open at a course like Riviera. Everything always pointed to this being his end, but he also admitted that he had doubts that it would ever come. There’s something rewarding about watching someone reach their destiny, and now we get to find out where it leads.
2. Charley Hull put together a record-setting weekend The RivieraGaby Lopez was hot until Sunday night and In Gee Chun hung on to keep the pressure on the opponents. What played a major role in making this the most memorable US Women’s Open in years: Some of the game’s biggest celebrities battling it out, or the famous stage that hosted the event? And how can professional women’s golf compare?
How: You can have one and not the other and produce great golf tournaments, but when the two come together they make for must-see TV, which is the goal of all major golf tournaments. Korda and Hull are arguably two of the most popular players in the women’s game, and I love how different they are. Charley is wild and aggressive with that fast swinging tempo while Nelly is very smooth and methodical. It’s a good, friendly rivalry if we can see them at the top of the leaderboards together more often, but what I really enjoyed was seeing how the women played the Riviera compared to what we see when the PGA Tour stops there. It’s a great secret lesson, but viewers at home can understand and appreciate it better watching the women play it.
Piastowski: I think they work hand-in-hand – good courses bring good play, and underclassmen, well, you know what else. This week also “felt” great, didn’t it? Prime time! HERE! Riv! There is history there. There are challenges. Hell, places like the Riv look cool. And when it’s in the right place, most people care – even though we have to talk about the broadcast being only three hours on Sunday. I think this is the next step for the LPGA – protect the regular season events from the big name courses. And yes, the majors should continue with the latest way of doing that. And, yes, somehow, some way, women should play at Augusta National.
Scrock: You need both, but I think Michelle Wie West nailed it pre-tourney when she talked about the importance of women playing the same courses as men. It adds context and elevates everything. What really works is when we have the same venue to host the men’s and women’s US Open in the same year, like when Wie won at Pinehurst in 2014 after Martin Kaymer did. It is incredibly important for women to be able to create their own moments on the iconic holes and cathedrals of golf. The cream also tends to rise to the top of cathedrals as it did this week and St Andrews in 2024.
3. What’s your last takeaway from the week of the US Women’s Open?
How: Nelly is certainly good and will dominate the conversation later this month at the KPMG Women’s PGA – as she tries to make it three in a row – but another story is starting to emerge as well: Charley Hull now has five majors without a win. His last three: T2, T10, T2. He will have to break through at some point.
Scrock: We are entering the summer of Nelly. She will dominate the KPMG week but will also arrive in Evian with a chance to win an LPGA Grand Slam (four out of five) and a chance to do so at the AIG Women’s Open. If he wins both, he gets what Lydia Ko, and others who know football, would call a real Grand Slam. And he’s about to kick down the Hall of Fame door. It’s all Nelly, but the big question is: Can the LPGA cash in on a moment that feels much bigger than Nelly’s game in 2024?
Piastowski: That we are watching the race of history. And, as Schrock said, above, the power of the LPGA-that’s what it should use.
4. Since the Saudi PIF is no longer sponsoring LIV Golf this season, the league is looking for investors. A few weeks ago, Bryson DeChambeau said he was “doing everything I can to make it happen” about a possible investment but acknowledged that his role as a player may be limited. Currently, Jon Rahm said this past week he knows little about business and “his job is to play golf.” Should LIV stars feel responsible for helping keep LIV afloat? Are they super powerful?
Buhle: Noooo. I mean, yes, if they have wealthy investors in their Rolodex, sure, reach out to them. But Rahm shouldn’t be scrutinized for his comments – he’s right. His job is to play. I’m sure promises were made to him when he joined the league, and I thought he wouldn’t help them get future funding in a few years. That’s why they pay execs big money.
Scrock: No. If you really, really want to help keep the league alive because you believe in the golf club or you want some place to play that isn’t on the PGA Tour, then, just go for it. But I think Rahm has the right idea. Play golf and see what happens when the dust settles.
Piastowski: It is possible. When DeChambeau and Rahm tell anyone they’re going to play LIV Golf for the next decade and that they’re going to work to bring in more stars, that’s a pretty good pitch. But yes, at the end of the day, the product is golf, so golfers have to play compelling golf.
5. We had all kinds of great golf over the weekend (in Spain, California, Ohio and elsewhere), but who won over the weekend without winning on Sunday?
How: Hmmmm. JT Poston, who won the Memorial, can still skip the US Open Final Qualifying on Monday so he must have a brain attack, but that doesn’t answer the question. What about Kiara Romero? The 20-year-old recently tied for sixth in the world’s top women’s golf tournament. That’s great! (Oh, and honorable mention: Maria José Marin, another student, arrested for the 8th time.)
Scrock: Four novices – Romero, Marin, Asterisk Talley and Aphrodite Deng – all freed themselves in Riviera. Talley made US Women’s Open history with her 66 on Saturday, and Romero took home the low-am medal (Go Ducks!). The future of women’s golf is in good hands.
Piastowski: We all did, right? What a weekend. Here is your pass to pick up on Monday.
