Nelly Korda won the U.S. Women’s Open on June 8, 2026, clinching victory with a heart-stopping 2½-foot putt on the 18th hole at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, as her fourth major title came after a tense final round that saw her hold off Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez by one shot. Korda finished at 8-under 276, securing her second consecutive major win following her victory at the Chevron Championship in April.

Close Call on the Final Green

Korda’s win was not without drama. Her second putt on the 18th hole caught the left edge of the cup, spiraling around before finally dropping in. The gallery, which had been watching in disbelief, erupted in cheers and gasps. Korda reacted with a hand over her mouth and a laugh at the absurdity of the moment. “It’s even sweeter, especially with that ice cream swirl on the last hole,” the world’s top-ranked player said. Her 2-under 69 in the final round was steady but tense, with a playoff scenario nearly emerging had the putt missed.

The tournament was held at the 100-year-old Riviera Country Club for the first time in the event’s history. Korda shared the lead with multiple competitors throughout the windy finale, and her victory marked her fourth LPGA Tour win of the season, which has already seen her record three second-place finishes in just eight starts. This win was notably different from her earlier major triumph at the Chevron Championship, where she pulled away from the field with greater ease.

Family and Future

Off the course, Korda recently announced her engagement to Casey Gunderson, a former college football player and business professional. The two met at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and reconnected before beginning their relationship about a year ago. Gunderson proposed on a beach, using fruit-filled dumplings to win over Korda’s parents, Petr and Regina. Korda joked about her fiancé’s golf skills: “No, thank God. I’ve seen his swing twice, and that’s all I needed to see.”

Korda also shared that her brother, Sebastian Korda, a 25-year-old ATP pro, recently proposed to longtime girlfriend Ivana Nedved, who was a childhood friend. Both weddings are expected in 2027, and Korda expressed confidence in her parents’ long marriage as a model for her own future. “I’ve been with my wife for 33 years,” said Petr Korda. “We’ve been together for close to 40 years. It’s what you wish for your kids, going in the same direction.”

Tradition and Triumph

Korda’s victory at the Chevron Championship in April had been marked by another tradition — a cannonball jump into the Poppie’s Pond at the 18th hole. The 27-year-old golfer celebrated her third major win by leaping into the water, a tradition that began in 1988 and continues at select tournaments. After her jump, she received a white robe and then the tournament trophy. This year, there had been concerns that the tradition might be discontinued at the Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, but it continued as part of the ceremony.

During the U.S. Women’s Open, Korda and Sei Young Kim entered the final round tied at six under par. Korda had started the week with a 73 in the first round but found her rhythm with a 67 in the second and third rounds. Kim, who had a strong first round with a 67, struggled in the second with a 72 before responding with a 68 on the third day. The competition remained tight, with Jennifer Kupcho and In Gee Chun also in contention at five under par.

Among European players, Charley Hull made a late push with a 65 in the third round, climbing 37 positions from 45th to a shared eighth place. Hull remains a factor for the final round but is still outside the immediate title contention at three under par. In the German contingent, Esther Henseleit remains the lone player still in the tournament.

Korda’s win at the U.S. Women’s Open adds to her already impressive 2026 season, in which she has captured three major titles and four LPGA Tour victories. Her success has placed her firmly at the top of the Rolex Rankings, and she is now five points away from the LPGA Hall of Fame. As she continues to dominate on the course and build a life off it, Korda’s career is shaping up to be one of the most successful in women’s golf history.