Nelly Korda, Coming Off Winless 2025, Arrives as World No. 1 at U.S. Women's Open Seeking Fourth Major

World No. S. Women's Open. S. Women's Open, her best result at the event.

She said the disappointment from that finish was replaced by a "hunger for more" that has remained with her since. "It was just like, 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," Korda said. " Korda said she feels "a lot more comfortable in my skin" heading into majors.

"I know what I want to do when I come out," she said. "There's not like looking around thinking, 'oh, should I do this? " Last month Korda won the Chevron Championship by at least four shots. ESPN reported that no player finished within four shots of her on the weekend.

The victory marked her third major title. In seven starts during the 2026 season, Korda has three wins. Her only finish outside the top two was a T-8 at the Kroger Queen City Championship two weeks before June 2.

The other six results were either wins or runner-up finishes. In 2025, Korda recorded nine top-10 finishes but no victories. " Korda said she chose not to change her approach after the winless 2025 season.

"I was definitely a little bit more motivated after last year not getting a win, but when it came to just my prep, everything stayed the same," she said. Korda detailed her daily schedule. , makes dinner, and goes to sleep early.

She takes one day off per week. "All those days, you kind of sacrifice your time at home with your friends or with family, but it's just so worth it because there's no better rush of emotions than being in the hunt," she said. Korda, who is 27, won five consecutive tournaments in 2024, including the Chevron Championship, and finished the year with seven victories overall.

She is attempting to become only the third American woman to win four major championships since 2000. Korda said she balks at the notion that she is the face of the women's game, though ESPN reported that the largest galleries at Riviera this week are expected to follow her.