World No. 1 Nelly Korda on course to end her U.S. Women’s Open drought

Nelly Korda seeks her first U.S. Women’s Open title at Erin Hills.
Korda is taking a more relaxed approach to this major compared to last year.
Korda tees off Thursday at 1:25 p.m. with Charley Hull and Lexi Thompson.

TOWN OF ERIN – Passing time while reading a book in a quiet house overlooking a lake in Washington Country sounds like a lovely way to spend some free time, and perhaps such relaxing vibes can help Nelly Korda claim the one major championship that has given her the most difficulty in her nine-year professional career: the U.S. Women’s Open.

The tournament starts at Erin Hills on May 29.

Last year at this time, her rivals on the LPGA Tour were trying to get out of her way as Korda steamrolled into the U.S. Women’s Open with six wins in seven starts. But by Friday night at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she was heading home with a disappointing missed cut.

This year she has yet to win, but has three top-10 finishes in seven starts − and gave herself a breather by taking two weeks off after a tie for fifth at the Mizuho Americas Open in early May.

“I played the week before Chevron, so I was a bit more in playing mode,” she said of how different her prep was for this major compared to her defense of her Chevron Championship major title in April. “Maybe a little bit more rested, I would say. But other than that, I’ve been working pretty hard, so I’m excited to see how this golf course is going to test my game.”

Her parents, Petr and Regina, came to Wisconsin early, too, to spend time with her at the house about 20 minutes away from Erin Hills.

“It’s so pretty,” Korda said of her residence the week of the tournament at Erin Hills, “it’s a nice little getaway.”

Already a 15-time winner on the LPGA Tour, she’s won the Women’s PGA Championship (2021) and the Chevron Championship (2024) and had the lead going into the third round of the Women’s British Open last year before finishing second.

But the U.S. Women’s Open?

Korda has never really been in the mix, with just two top-10 finishes in her 10 previous starts.

She said following her practice round on May 27 that her on-course preparation has remained the same, but it’s hard not to think the differences of taking time off to practice, having family on hand for longer and, frankly, having a cozier living space might be the small changes needed for a U.S. Women’s Open breakthrough.

“It’s the biggest test in the game of golf,” she said. “Definitely has tested me a lot. I love it. At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do is to play these golf courses in these conditions, to test our games in every aspect. Not even just our games, our mental, as well. I enjoy it, and I’m excited to see what this week is going to bring.”