The 80th edition of the U.S. Women`s Open is set to commence on Thursday at Erin Hills Club in Erin, Wisconsin. This prestigious event features the oldest major championship title in women`s golf and offers the largest prize fund in the sport.
This marks the first time Erin Hills has hosted the Women`s U.S. Open. The course, known for its dramatically undulating fairways and greens sculpted by glacial activity over centuries, is anticipated to present one of the most rigorous challenges of the season for the world`s top female golfers.
“It tests every part of your game,” stated two-time major champion Nelly Korda on Tuesday. “It`s very demanding. It`s firm. It`s fast, as well. Even if you think you`ve hit it good, you can exhale when you see it stop. I would say even the weather plays a big role with the shots out here, with the putts.”
As the second major championship of the season gets underway, here are some of the compelling storylines to watch:
Can World No. 1 Nelly Korda Find Her Winning Momentum?
World No. 1 golfer Nelly Korda has had a season start on the LPGA Tour somewhat similar to World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler`s journey on the PGA Tour, where he took a few months to secure his first wins, including his third major. A year ago, Korda had already achieved six victories before the second major of the season.
This year, however, she has yet to lift a trophy in her seven starts.
“Yeah, it`s been a very interesting year for me,” Korda commented on Tuesday. “Definitely have had a bit of good and a bit of bad. Kind of a mix in kind of every event that I`ve played in. I would say just patience is what I`ve learned and kind of going back home and really locking in and practicing hard.”
It`s not that Korda has played poorly; she`s had a top-25 finish in all but one event, including a runner-up finish at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and tying for fifth in her last start at the Mizuho Americas Open.
Her performance statistics remain strong, ranking second on the LPGA Tour in strokes gained: total (2.40) and off the tee (1.03), and ninth in tee to green (1.59). She also features in the top 25 for approach (0.65) and putting (0.86).
Korda is seeking a better outcome at the U.S. Women`s Open this year. Her recent history in the championship includes three missed cuts, a tie for eighth, and a tie for 64th in her last five starts. Last year at Lancaster Country Club, she struggled in the first round, recording a 10 on the par-3 12th hole and ultimately shooting an 80, missing the cut despite a second-round 70.
“Oh, yeah, lots of ups and downs,” Korda reflected on her U.S. Open experiences. “I mean, it`s the biggest test in the game of golf. Definitely has tested me a lot. I love it.”
Korda is scheduled to play the first two rounds alongside England`s Charley Hull and Lexi Thompson.
“At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do is to play these golf courses in these conditions, to test our games in every aspect,” Korda added. “Not even just our games, our mental [strength], as well. I enjoy it, and I`m excited to see what this week is going to bring.”
Lydia Ko Eyes Career Grand Slam
Lydia Ko has the chance to join an exclusive group of just seven other golfers in LPGA history to complete the career Grand Slam if she wins the U.S. Women`s Open in her 14th attempt. She has two previous top-10 finishes in the tournament but missed the cut last year.
Remarkably, at only 27 years old, Ko has already secured three major championship victories: the 2015 Evian Championship, the 2016 Chevron Championship, and the 2024 Women`s British Open.
Ko is paired with reigning U.S. Women`s Open champion Yuka Saso and amateur Rianne Malixi for the opening two rounds.
“I think as long as I`m playing, it`s always good to have a goal, so that when I`m working on things, I`m always going forward and not trying to think, `Oh, did I this, so who cares?`” Ko shared. “So it`s just more to just keep myself more motivated. Hopefully not, but even if I never win a U.S. Women`s Open, I don`t think I`m going to wake up from my sleep and go, `I never won.`”
Golfers who have previously completed a career Grand Slam (winning four different majors) include Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright, Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, and Inbee Park. Karrie Webb is notably the only one to achieve the “Super Career Grand Slam” by winning five different major championships.
Sweden`s Anna Nordqvist, winner of the 2009 Women`s PGA Championship, 2017 Evian Championship, and 2021 Women`s British Open, also has an opportunity to complete her career Grand Slam this week.
Yuka Saso Aims for a Third U.S. Women`s Open Title
Yuka Saso will be attempting to become only the seventh golfer in history to win the U.S. Women`s Open national championship three times.
Only Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright have won the event four times. Three-time champions include Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Susie Maxwell Berning, Hollis Stacy, and Annika Sorenstam.
“I could call myself a two-time major champion, and better than that, two-time U.S. Women`s Open champion,” Saso said, reflecting on her win last year. “I think it`s a great tournament to have beside my name, and, I don`t know, maybe because I dreamed of winning this, and winning it twice is much better.”
Saso already holds a unique record, being the only golfer to claim the Harton S. Semple Trophy while representing two different countries. Her victory at the 2021 U.S. Women`s Open at the Olympic Club came while she represented the Philippines, her country of birth. Last year, when she defeated Japan`s Hinako Shibuno, Saso was playing under the Japanese flag, her father`s homeland.
She held dual citizenship until required to choose one under Japanese nationality law, renouncing her Filipino citizenship in 2022 before turning 22.
Erin Hills: A Significant Test
Erin Hills Golf Course, situated about 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee, is a par-72 layout stretching to 6,829 yards for this championship. This makes it the second-longest course featured on the LPGA Tour schedule this season.
Erin Hills previously hosted the 2017 U.S. Open for men, where Brooks Koepka won with a 72-hole score of 16-under 272.
However, the course is not expected to play as easily this week, particularly if wind becomes a factor. The forecast includes a possibility of thunderstorms on Friday with winds potentially reaching 10 to 20 mph. Sunny skies with lighter winds (5 to 10 mph) are predicted for the weekend.
“It`s definitely a really big course,” noted 2023 U.S. Women`s Open champion Allisen Corpuz. “I hit a lot more hybrids and woods than I would have wanted to into greens [during Monday`s practice round]. I think just any major, ball-striking is always really important. I think especially with the green complexes here [and] a lot of run-offs, just a few tight fairways that will definitely be key here.”
While Erin Hills does not feature any water hazards, its challenge comes from 132 sand bunkers and 3½-inch fescue rough, demanding precision from players.
“It`s very demanding off the tee with all the bunkers,” Korda commented. “The bunkers are not easy. Sometimes you just don`t even have a stance in them because they`re so small. Then the shots into the greens and also the greens. Just an overall good test of your entire game.”
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has alternative tees available, providing flexibility to adjust the course depending on wind or wet conditions.
“We also keep a very close eye on firmness, and obviously speed, wet conditions, very windy conditions,” stated Shannon Rouillard, the USGA`s senior director of championships. “It`s really important that the test remains relative and appropriate to the conditions that we`re going to face, whether they`re wet or whether we`re going to experience some greater wind conditions.”
