In the shadow of Hollywood, Nelly Korda finally achieved the ending she had been pursuing.
The Riviera Country Club, one of golf’s most iconic and cinematic venues, hosted the 81st U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally. The championship delivered exactly what the setting demanded: tension, star power, a crowded leaderboard, and a final putt that seemed to pause on the edge of history before sinking in.
For Korda, her one-stroke victory over Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez represented more than just another trophy. It marked her first U.S. Women’s Open title, her first USGA championship, and the fourth major championship of her career. This win also moves her one step closer to the LPGA career Grand Slam, with only the AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship remaining between her and one of the sport’s most prestigious achievements.
Nelly Korda | Digital editorial image.
Nelly Korda | Digital editorial image.
Korda closed with a 2-under-par 69 to finish at 8-under 276, but nothing about Sunday felt routine. She didn’t hold the outright lead until the 17th hole, where a crucial 9-foot birdie putt on Riviera’s par 5 finally put her ahead. Then came the 18th, where a 3-foot par putt caught the left lip, circled the cup, and dropped in.
It was the kind of nerve-wracking finish that makes major championships feel larger than life.
This victory continues Korda’s remarkable start to the 2026 season. She has now won the first two majors of the year, becoming the first American since Pat Bradley in 1986 to achieve this feat. After opening with a 73 and sitting tied for 56th after Thursday, Korda rebuilt her championship with patience, firing back-to-back 67s before Sunday’s closing 69. Her seven-shot comeback matched the largest first-round deficit ever overcome by a U.S. Women’s Open champion.
Hull and Lopez ensured that the finish never felt like a coronation. Hull made the best weekend charge in the field, shooting 65-67, and nearly stole the championship with her fearless shot-making. Lopez, aiming to become the first Mexican-born U.S. Women’s Open champion, birdied the final hole to momentarily share the lead, adding another layer of pressure to Korda’s final walk.
Nelly Korda | Digital editorial image.
But in the end, Riviera belonged to Korda.
The timing gave the moment added significance. With June recognized across the golf community as Women’s Golf Month, Korda’s victory serves as a powerful showcase for the women’s game. A legendary venue, a world No. 1 champion, and a Hollywood-style finish provided a marquee moment that reflects the sport’s growing momentum.
For Korda, the U.S. Women’s Open had once been the major title that eluded her, especially after her runner-up finish at Erin Hills in 2025. At Riviera, she transformed that near-miss into a defining triumph.
Hollywood loves a redemption story, and Riviera gave women’s golf one of its own.
Nelly Korda, calm enough to navigate the turmoil and bold enough to seize the moment, left Pacific Palisades with the trophy, a place in history, and a career Grand Slam pursuit that now feels very attainable.
