Nelly Korda enters the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera chasing history, redemption and one of the few trophies still missing from her resume.
Nelly Korda arrives at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open with the kind of momentum that makes the rest of the field feel the heat before the first tee shot is even struck.
The world No. 1 came painfully close last year at Erin Hills, finishing tied for second with Rio Takeda in what became her best career finish at the U.S. Women’s Open.
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For most players, that kind of near miss in a winless season would sting for months. For Korda, it did something different.
“That I was just hungry for more,” Korda said when asked what she took from last year’s close call. “Last year was just a weird year of not necessarily playing my best, but also when I did, not getting the bounces or just missing by a centimeter here and there. But I also learned a lot about myself. It made me hungrier to be in those positions.
“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 are more chances.”
Now, another chance has arrived at Riviera Country Club, and Korda looks dangerous.
The 27-year-old has been a machine in 2026. She opened the season by winning the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida, then stacked runner-up finishes behind Hyo Joo Kim at the Fortinet Founders Cup and Ford Championship.
She added another T2 at the Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek, where Lauren Coughlin won.
Then came the hammer. Korda captured her second Chevron Championship and third career major by finishing 18-under at Memorial Park, five shots clear of Patty Tavatanakit and Ruoning Yin.
A week later, she won again at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, giving her three victories in six starts.
Even her “off” week was a tie for eighth at the Kroger Queen City Championship.
Now she gets Riviera, a historic stage with major championship teeth.
“It’s in pristine condition. It’s an amazing place,” Korda said. “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 – today being Tuesday, yesterday playing, it’s already in absolute great condition. I know some golf courses wait until Wednesday to really speed up the greens, but it’s amazing out here.
“The vibe of the place, knowing that so much history has been played out here, it’s a great place for us to play.”
A win would give Korda the U.S. Women’s Open trophy she craves, move her closer to the Career Grand Slam and push her near LPGA Hall of Fame qualification.
The stakes are massive. So is the spotlight.
And Korda looks ready to turn last year’s heartbreak into a Hollywood finish.
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