Nelly Korda looking to turn domination into US Women’s Open success
Nelly Korda during practice on Tuesday – image Kathryn Riley USGA
World number one, Nelly Korda, will this week attempt to turn her domination of the women’s game in 2026 into a breakthrough success in her own national open when she takes on the US Women’s Open at the Riviera Country Club, trying to better her runner-up finish in the event in 2025.
Korda has played in eight LPGA Tour events in 2026 for three wins, three runner-up finishes, a 3rd and 8th place, and although the winner of three majors already in her career, the one she likely wants the most has eluded her to date.
It has been a phenomenal start to the year, but she is keen to put behind her the disappointment of finishing two shots behind Maja Stark at Erin Hills in Wisconsin last year.
“Last year was just a weird year of kind of not necessarily playing my best, but also when I did, not getting the bounces or just missing by a centimetre here and there. But I also learned a lot about myself. It made me hungrier to be in those positions.
“Yeah, it was just like there’s no better place to be in than in the hunt on a back nine on Sunday at a major championship, especially at the Women’s Open. It would have been a lifelong dream, but there’s more chances.”
After the disappointment of not winning at all in 2025, Korda talked about the return to the form that had seen her such a dominant force in 2024, when she won seven times on the LPGA Tour.
“I was definitely a little bit more motivated after last year not getting a win, but when it came to just my prep, everything stayed the same,” added Korda. “This year I didn’t go to Asia. I took that time off to really get my body ready, spend some time in the gym, and didn’t touch my clubs for a little bit. Then, when I thought I was ready, I started really grinding on my game. That’s kind of what I’ve been doing for the past three or four years.
I’ve stayed the course because I’ve felt the best this way, and I’m just going to continue it. Sometimes you get the bounces, and the luck goes your way, and sometimes it doesn’t. But athletes, after they’ve had like a tough year, they try to reinvent the wheel, and they try to change so much about their games. I feel like that leads them into trouble. It makes them doubt stuff a little bit more. Maybe you just don’t feel very comfortable in your own skin after you’ve changed a lot about your game, maybe your team as well.
“I always just try to be like, okay, this works. I’m putting in the effort every single day, and I know that if I continue this path, like it will change.”
Korda is already enjoying what the Riviera Country Club will offer this week.
“It’s in pristine condition. It’s an amazing place. Obviously, the men rave about it every year, and for us to get to play this golf course in a major championship in major championship conditions has — obviously, today being Tuesday, and yesterday, it’s already in absolute great condition.
“I know some golf courses kind of wait until Wednesday to really speed up the greens, but it’s amazing out here. I mean, the vibe of the place, knowing that so much history has been played out here. It’s a great place for us to play.”
Despite the venue being used on so many occasions for significant men’s events, Korda has not really paid a lot of attention to previous championships at the Riviera Country Club, but feels confident in the processes she has in place to do well.
“If I’m being honest, I haven’t researched at all. I don’t necessarily watch too much golf. I had my coach, one of my coaches, Jamie Mulligan, come out here, and he’s from this area, and he’s been at this golf course millions of times. So yesterday he came out and walked with me, as he will today as well.
“Obviously, he has a lot of knowledge, and I was just asking him some questions, but sometimes too much information isn’t really good. So I just try to play the golf course and kind of figure it out on my own. I know Jason, my caddie, has done a lot of research as well on the golf course.
“So we’ll pick a game plan depending on the day. Every day is going to be different. I know the wind switches here kind of from morning to afternoon based off it coming from the water. So, yeah, every day is going to be a different game plan.
“For me, I just try to scope out the golf course myself and figure it out.”
This will be Korda’s 12th US Women’s Open appearance with three top tens and a best of 2nd in 2025.
