Nelly Korda won the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera, but the grandest title in the women’s game came down to a heart-stopping final putt. A nearly-missed 34-incher on the 18th green sealed her victory over Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez by a single stroke.
The win caps a season of total dominance. In eight starts in 2026, Korda has four wins—including two majors—and four runner-up finishes. Her scoring average of 68.26 is over a full stroke better than her nearest competitor. But the final moments at Riviera showed a human side to the world’s best player.
After a clutch birdie on the 17th gave her the lead, Korda faced a short par putt on 18 for the championship. It was a moment filled with pressure. “I had to honestly a couple times tell myself, okay, stay in the moment, because I was dreaming of hoisting the trophy a little too early,” Korda admitted. She also questioned her own course management on the final hole, stating, “Pretty much, like, why did I leave myself such a long putt to make par?”
The putt came off the blade looking like a miss. It caught the left edge of the cup, horseshoed around, and dropped in for the win. The dramatic make was a fitting end, especially given Korda’s past struggles with short putts in key moments.
She has previously spoken about the mental side of these mistakes. “I want to show kids at home that it’s okay to miss shorts putts and still win a major championship,” Korda once said. “You’re gonna do it. You’re gonna make mistakes but you have to mentally still be in it 100%.” On Sunday, she lived that message, surviving a near-mistake to secure the one title she coveted most.
