Nelly Korda learned some lessons last year when she fell short of winning the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills.
The top-ranked player in the world didn’t handle the pressure well. She also was unable to elevate her performance and she ended up tied for second as Sweden’s Maja Stark won by two shots.
Korda is back in position for another run after she finished in style Saturday with three consecutive birdies. She is tied with South Korea’s Sei Young Kim for the lead at 6-under-par 207 after three rounds of the U.S. Women’s Open in Los Angeles.
Korda fired a 4-under 67 for the second straight day as she takes aim at winning that elusive first U.S. Women’s Open in her 12th attempt. She is the only golfer to birdie Nos. 16, 17 and 18 in succession over the first three rounds.
“I think last year I really, really wanted it, and the more you want it sometimes, the more you stiffen up and you get a little bit more nervous,” Korda said. “I play my best golf when I’m happy, free Nelly, and I’m kind of joking around out there. So that’s kind of the attitude that I’m going to have tomorrow.”
Kim shot 68 with one birdie over the last three holes to keep pace with Korda. Jennifer Kupcho (69) and South Korea’s In Gee Chun (69) share third place, one shot behind.
Second-round co-leader Ruoning Yin (71) of China, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (68) and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez (70) are tied for fifth at Riviera Country Club, located just blocks away from where the devastating fire roared through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in early 2025.
Korda had five birdies and one bogey as she chases her fourth career major title. The World No. 1 is playing in her 12th U.S. Women’s Open and has just three previous top-10 finishes.
However, she’s feeling good about sharing the lead with 18 holes to go.
“It’s always amazing to be in this position,” Korda said. “That’s what we work so hard for, to be in this spot. So whatever happens tomorrow happens, but I’m going to give it my all and see what the outcome is.”
Kim made five birdies against two bogeys. She is eyeing her second career major title.
“It’s been a long time since I won a major championship,” Kim said. “Last time it was 2020, KPMG (Women’s PGA Championship). So, yeah, maybe I play under the pressure (Sunday), but I try to just do what I have to do to focus on the course.”
Chun, a three-time major winner, had two birdies and two bogeys. After securing an eagle on the par-5 first hole, she sank consecutive birdies on 11 and 12 to tie Kim for the lead.
“The U.S. Open has a great, cool setting out there,” Chun said. “We have so many good players here. But I don’t want to be like perfect every time, I just simply know what I can do out there and just have to take it day by day.”
Kupcho birdied 16 and 17 to creep up the leaderboard. She had four birdies and two bogeys and is looking for her second career major crown.
“I can’t control what anyone else is doing, so I’m just going to go out there and do my best and see how that matches up with them,” Kupcho said of her approach for Sunday.
Yin birdied 16 and 17 but settled for a par on 18 to finish at even par. Yin had three bogeys over the first nine holes before recording three birdies over the last six holes.
Hataoka had four birdies and one bogey while Lopez eagled the par-4 No. 10 and also had two birdies to go with three bogeys.
The other second-round co-leader, Alison Lee, struggled with five bogeys while scoring four birdies, shooting 72. Her bogey on 18 knocked her into a tie for eighth with England’s Charley Hull (65) and South Korea’s Hyunjo Yoo (71) at 3-under 210.
Hull shot 73-72 the first two rounds but jetted into contention with the best round of the day, notching seven birdies and just one bogey. She finished the round with three birdies in the last five holes.
“I kind of like chasing,” Hull said. “I just find it more fun and I can then be free and then just play golf how I want to play golf.”
Hull has never won a major. Her resume includes a solo second, three ties for second and a tie for third in majors.
Yoo had three birdies and three bogeys.
Defending champion Stark shot a 68 on Saturday and is tied for 11th at 2 under.
–Field Level Media
