Nelly Korda secured her first U.S. Women’s Open title on Sunday at Riviera Country Club, finishing at eight under par with a final round of 69 to claim her fourth major championship. The 27-year-old world No. 1 golfer held off strong challenges from England’s Charley Hull and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, who finished one shot behind, amid challenging wind conditions at the first Women’s Open held at the historic Pacific Palisades venue.

Korda’s victory capped a remarkable turnaround after a winless 2025. She opened the tournament with a round of 73, a day marked by early equipment issues when she switched out of a pair of Nike golf shoes gifted by LeBron James due to discomfort. However, she rebounded with consecutive rounds of 67 to enter the final day tied for the lead with Hull, Lopez, and South Korea’s In Gee Chun at seven under par.

Sunday’s final round was tightly contested, with the lead exchanging hands late in the day. Hull surged into contention with back-to-back birdies on the back nine and eagled the first hole earlier in the tournament, while Lopez made a late birdie putt on the 18th to briefly share the lead. In Gee Chun ultimately finished two shots behind at six under.

Korda’s steady play on the back nine—where she avoided bogeys unlike her closest rivals—proved decisive. She made a pivotal long birdie putt on the 17th hole that broke the four-way tie for the lead, followed by a tense two-putt par on the 18th that narrowly dropped after nearly spinning out of the hole. The clinching putt was met with gasps from the gallery before it finally dropped, prompting an emotional celebration from Korda, who wiped away tears and embraced her family.

This victory highlighted Korda’s improved mental approach. After a difficult previous season, she emphasized maintaining a positive mindset and embracing challenges rather than succumbing to frustration. She credited this shift for her ability to grind through the demanding conditions at Riviera. Korda finished the tournament with the fewest bogeys on the back nine among the leaders.

Hull, a five-time runner-up in major championships, was aiming to become the third Englishwoman to win the U.S. Women’s Open but settled for second place. Lopez sought to become the first Mexican woman to win the event and only the second from her country to capture a major title, following mentor Lorena Ochoa’s Chevron Championship victory in 2008.

Korda’s triumph at Riviera marked the second consecutive major win of the season for her and added to what is shaping up to be one of the most dominant seasons in recent women’s golf history. She earned the tournament’s $2.5 million winner’s share from a record $12.5 million purse and cemented her status as the youngest American to reach four major titles since Mickey Wright in 1960.