Nelly Korda Aims for First Win of the Season at US Women's Open

The second major tournament of the LPGA Tour season, the US Women's Open, is set to kick off on May 29 at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, featuring a total prize pool of $12 million (approximately 165 billion KRW). Among the 156 competitors, 25 are from South Korea, which has seen its players lift the trophy 11 times since 1998, starting with Park Se-ri (48). They are now looking to secure their first victory in five years since Kim A-rim (30) won in 2020.

Top-ranked South Korean players include Yoo Hae-ran (24, ranked 5th), Kim Hyo-joo (30, ranked 7th), Ko Jin-young (30, ranked 10th), Yang Hee-young (36, ranked 20th), and Yoon In-na (22, ranked 24th). Other participants include KLPGA Tour members Hwang Yu-min (22), Bae So-hyun (32), Ma Da-som (26), Noh Seung-hee (24), Yoo Hyun-jo (20), and Kim Soo-ji (29), as well as Shin Ji-ae (37), the all-time leading money winner on the JLPGA Tour. Players from both the KLPGA and JLPGA Tours earned their spots based on world rankings, with KLPGA players now receiving points equivalent to domestic majors for high finishes in LPGA and JLPGA majors starting this season.

Yoo Hae-ran, who finished tied for sixth after starting the final round of the Chevron Championship as a co-leader, sees the US Women's Open as a chance to redeem herself. She recently secured her first win of the season at the Black Desert Championship the week after the Chevron. "I’ve been able to improve my shot accuracy, short game, and course management while preparing in Korea for this major event," she expressed confidence, adding, "I have eight wins in total (five in Korea and three in the U.S.), but I want to win a major this year."

World No. 1 Nelly Korda (27, USA) is also seeking her first victory of the season. Despite having long considered the US Women's Open her most desired title, her performance in this major has been less than stellar, with her best finish being tied for eighth in 2022. Last year, despite winning seven times, she missed the cut after scoring a 10 on a par-3 hole. Korda currently leads the LPGA Tour in average strokes per round (68.88) but is still in search of a win. "I’m learning patience," she noted, mentioning the course's lack of trees, which can significantly affect play in windy conditions.

Lydia Ko (28, New Zealand), ranked third in the world, is aiming for a career Grand Slam with a win at this tournament. Having previously won the Evian Championship in 2015, the Chevron Championship in 2016, and the AIG Women's Open last year, she remarked, "I started watching golf YouTube videos because of my husband, and it was a great way to familiarize myself with the course for this event."