Nelly Korda delivers Hollywood blockbuster with first U.S. Women's Open win
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Nelly Korda won the 81st U.S. Women’s Open with less than her “B game” at a place known for Babe Zaharias, Ben Hogan and Humphrey Bogart. She dramatically horseshoed in the winning putt in a glorious amphitheater setting on primetime TV as the crowd ch
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Nelly Korda won the 81st U.S. Women’s Open with less than her “B game” at a place known for Babe Zaharias, Ben Hogan and Humphrey Bogart. She dramatically horseshoed in the winning putt in a glorious amphitheater setting on primetime TV as the crowd chanted her name.
At famed Riviera Country Club it felt, as her caddie Jason McDede said, like destiny.
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” said 27-year-old Korda of winning the title she wanted most. “I just can’t even explain how much this means to me.”
It was a fight all week. From the moment she slipped off those LeBron-gifted shoes during the first round, when she holed what she called an ice cream swirl of a 3-footer on the 72 nd green.
“She’s probably the icon of golf right now,” said her proud father Petr, with grandson Greyson perched high on his shoulders.
Korda became the first American woman to win the U.S. Women’s Open while ranked No. 1 since the Rolex Rankings debuted in 2006. She’s the first American woman to reach four major titles since Meg Mallon in 2004, and the first American to win the first two majors of the season since Pat Bradley in 1986.
How rarefied is Korda’s air right now? She joins a list of American players to have won four majors before age 28 that includes the Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright and Kathy Whitworth.
Big sister Jessica Korda, who sat on the range Thursday afternoon and offered the tip that would turn Nelly’s game around, couldn’t even get out any words on Sunday in aftermath.
