Nelly Korda Wins 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera for First Career Title
The best player in women’s golf just added another massive trophy to an already incredible year.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda won the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club, securing her first career U.S. Women’s Open championship and her fourth major title overall. The victory also marks her second major championship of the 2026 season, further cementing her status as the dominant force in professional golf.
A Championship Years in the Making
Korda entered the week as the favorite, but her path to victory was anything but easy.
She opened the tournament with a disappointing two-over-par 73 and looked far from her best. Many players would have faded from contention after such a start at one of golf’s toughest major championships. Instead, Korda responded like champions do.
Over the next three rounds, she steadily climbed the leaderboard, producing some of the best golf of the tournament. A spectacular third-round 67 placed her in contention heading into Sunday, setting up a dramatic final-round showdown.
Sunday Drama at Riviera
The final round delivered exactly what golf fans hoped for.
Korda battled a crowded leaderboard featuring several of the LPGA Tour’s biggest names. With the championship hanging in the balance, she delivered one of the tournament’s defining moments on the par-5 17th hole, sinking a clutch birdie putt to take the outright lead.
That left one hole between Korda and history.
After finding the fairway and safely reaching the green on the 18th, she faced a nerve-racking finishing putt. The ball nearly lipped out before dramatically falling into the cup, sending Riviera’s galleries into celebration mode and securing the championship.
The Era of Nelly Korda
For years, the U.S. Women’s Open had been one of the few major championships missing from Korda’s résumé.
Not anymore.
The victory gives her:
- First U.S. Women’s Open title
- Fourth career major championship
- Second major victory of 2026
- Fourth tournament win of the season
- Another step toward LPGA Hall of Fame eligibility
At just 27 years old, Korda continues to build a legacy that could place her among the greatest players in LPGA history. Her combination of power, consistency, and poise under pressure has made her the benchmark for the modern women’s game.
A Big Win for Women’s Golf
The championship also represents a milestone for the sport itself.
The 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club showcased elite competition, dramatic finishes, and one of the biggest stars in golf delivering on the biggest stage. As attendance, television audiences, and sponsorship investment continue to rise across women’s golf, Korda remains one of the sport’s most recognizable and marketable athletes.
Looking Ahead
With the Chevron Championship and now the U.S. Women’s Open already on her 2026 résumé, the conversation shifts from whether Nelly Korda is having a great season to just how historic this season could become.
If her current form continues, more trophies—and perhaps more major championships—may soon be headed her way.
For now, Riviera belongs to Nelly Korda.
And after years of chasing the trophy, the U.S. Women’s Open champion finally has her crown. 🏆
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