Nelly Korda captured her first U.S. Women's Open title on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, carding a final-round 3-under-par 68 to win by two strokes over world No. 2 Jin Young Ko. the 27-year-old American finished at 12-under 272, becoming the third woman in history — after Annika Sorenstam and Mickey Wright — to win both the U.S.. Women's Open and the Women's PGA Championship in the same calenar year, according to the source report.

The $12 million purse and record crowds: women's golf's commercial breakthrough

The U.S. Women's Open offered a record $12 million purse in 2026, and as the source article noted, the tournament drew reord crowds and strong TV ratings. That figure represents a sharp increase from just a few years ago — the 2021 purse was $5.5 million — and signals that sponsors and broadcasters are betting big on the growth of women's golf. Riviera's demanding layout and iconic kikuyu grass were on full display, and the packed galleries underscored that top-level women's golf is no longer a niche product.

Why Riviera's kikuyu grass tested every player — and Korda passed

Riviera Country Club is known for its thick, sticky kikuyu grass in the rough, which punishes errant drives and demands precision iron play. According to the source, Korda hit 13 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation in the final round, missing only one fairway and three greens all day.. Her putting was clinical — just 28 putts — and she saved par from inside 10 feet repeatedly. This performance on one of the most demanding courses in major championship golf elevates the win beyond a simple scoreline; it was a test of every facet of her game.

Joining Sorenstam and Wright: the significance of the double

Korda's win puts her in a select group: only Sorenstam (2003) and Wright (1958) had previously won both the U.S. Women's Open and the Women's PGA Championship in the same year. Both players are Hall of Famers, and Korda, at 27, now has two major titles — her first came at the 2021 Women's PGA. The source notes that she had endured a string of near-misses in recent majors, making this victory especially sweet. The ability to close on a Sunday at Riviera suggests that Korda has added the mental resilience needed to dominate the tour.

What the source leaves out about Korda's two-year major drought

The report states that Korda had been a consistent contender but often fell short on Sundays since 2021, but it does not detail the specific reasons — whether injury, swing adjustments, or psychological pressure.. Questions remain about what changed in her preparation after those near-misses. The source also does not mention how her father, former tenns star Petr Korda, to whom she dedicated the win, influenced her return to form. Without those details, the story of her comeback remains incomplete. It also does not address how the tour's depth — players like Ko and Lexi Thompson — will adjust to Korda's newfound closing ability.