Nelly Korda spent nearly half her life attempting to win the US Women’s Open - now the world No 1 has successfully fulfilled her childhood dream of securing one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.
Korda continued her dominant start to the season by claiming a second successive major, edging clear of a congested leaderboard and holding off a final-round charge from Charley Hull to claim a one-shot win at Riviera Country Club.
The world No 1's latest victory is her fourth on the LPGA Tour this season and saw her become the youngest American since 1960 to reach four major titles, with the win also the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
Korda made her debut at the US Women's Open as a 14-year-old qualifier in 2013 and had three previous top-10s at the event without success, with the 27-year-old now going one better than last year's runner-up finish to claim the major she feared she may never win.
"For that 14-year-old girl that stepped on the range at Sebonack [Golf Club] in 2013 [US Open], I mean, her dream has just come true sitting next to this trophy right now," Korda said in her victory press conference. "It's really hard to put into words.
"I always felt like I emphasize the [US] Women's Open so much like - that's where my dream started of playing on the LPGA. Every year I never played well.
"I was always over-par or I made a mess of a hole at Lancaster [10 on a par-three during the 2024 contest], and I just felt like that dream was almost kind of slipping away, but it was still keeping me very much so motivated.
"Being in the chase at Erin Hills [2025 US Women's Open], I turned the corner of 'okay, can I be in the hunt, I can do this, I can play and I can contend at a US Women's Open. I can put the dream aside and focus on what's right in front of me'. I really tried to focus on that."
Korda was seven strokes off the early lead after an opening-round 73 but charged into a share of the lead after back-to-back 67s over the next two days, then birdied two of her first six holes during a roller coaster Sunday.
The American bogeyed the par-four seventh and began to doubt her victory prospects after a par-streak through the final round, only to find a birdie at the par-five 17th and close out her win with a two-putt par at the last.
"This week was definitely a grind," Korda admitted. "I don't even feel like I had my B-game! I was just grinding out there. That's what I guess major championships are all about, right? It doesn't matter if you have your B or C-game, you have to be there mentally.
"I have a great support system and I literally would not be standing here without millions of pep talks I just got on the golf course from Jay [Jason McDede, caddie].
"I mean obviously I've had doubts - even mid-round I was like, 'well, will I ever win it?' I mean you always have those doubts. I think you're just a human being if you have them. Like everyone will have them eventually at some parts of their career.
"I don't know if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders, but I'm just extremely proud of my fight this week and the dream of that little girl that you get to check that off your bucket list."
Korda's 19th LPGA Tour victory moves her just two points away from securing her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame, plus sees her become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win the first two majors of a calendar year.
She has more major wins than any other player this decade and has further opportunities to add to her tally in the coming months, with the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (June 25-28) followed by the Evian Championship (July 9-12) and the AIG Women's Open (July 30-August 2).
A victory at the end of the next three would see Korda equal the most major wins in a calendar year by a female golfer, with either the Evian Championship or AIG Women's Open required to complete the career Grand Slam.
"I've never really thought about the legacy of my career, if I'm being completely honest," Korda admitted. "I just really love competing and I love being in this position of sometimes having a big lead going into Sunday - or being tied for the lead - and having to absolutely grind it out."
Only four of the five majors are required to be classified as having completed the Grand Slam and Park is the only player to have won all five current majors, although her Evian Championship title came before it was officially recognised among the majors.
"I think now that there's more work to be done [for Korda] and I think she'll be the first to admit it," former major champion Karen Stupples told the Your Site Golf podcast. "She [Nelly] knows this is but there's still more that can be done.
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"We've been so accustomed to players like Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler showing up and performing. In the women's game, it hasn't been the case in majors. You've had your best players in the world, not really contending at majors, so it's been a bit of an enigma for those top players.
"I think everything was primed for this moment and for Nelly to achieve these heights. I've seen a transition in her in attitude when it comes to her golf. She's much more forgiving of some of her bad shots as opposed to being incredibly hard on herself and trying to achieve perfection.
"She understands now that she doesn't need to be perfect to win."
Australian legend Karrie Webb is the only previous 'Super Grand Slam' winner as she won all five active majors during her career, although the du Maurier Classic was removed from being a major soon after her 1999 success.
Korda has many opportunities ahead to put herself out ahead of the rest as one of golf's all-time greats.
Your Site continues to be the home of the women's majors, with all five exclusively live across the 2026 season along with LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour action. or .
