Maja Stark came into the 80th U.S. Women's Open with low expectations and left a champion

USA Today

2 days ago

Maja Stark came into the 80th U.S. Women's Open with low expectations and left a champion
ERIN, Wis. – It wasn't that Maja Stark felt overly confident this week. Quite the contrary, in fact. The 25-year-old Swede came into the 80th U.S. Women's Open with low expectations, thinking more about her status on tour than winning.
"I think that I just stopped trying to control everything," said Stark, "and I just kind of let everything happen the way it happened."
What unfolded on the wide and sometimes wild fairways and greens of Erin Hills was a fairy tale for Stark, who became the third Swede to win the U.S. Women's Open, following in the footsteps of Liselotte Neumann and Annika Sorenstam.
"They texted me yesterday and just kind of said, bring it home," said Stark, who entered the final round with a one-shot lead. "That was already cool to just get those texts. Just looking at all the names on the trophy. I love the U.S. Opens. I'm so happy that it's mine now."
To clinch her first major title, a steady Stark had to hold off an army of contenders on a golf course that can strike at any moment. Chief among those was world No. 1 Nelly Korda and a trio of Japanese hotshots in rookie Rio Takeda and major champions Mao Saigo and Hinako Shibuno.
"I just felt like people are going to pass me probably," said Stark of her mindset with so many formidable chasers, "and I just had to stay calm through that."
An aggressive player who often carries a good deal of swagger, Stark said in her post-tournament press conference that she didn't want to rely on her confidence this week. Instead, little tricks like hovering the club above the ground before she hit to release tension, served her well.
Stark said her coach, Joe Hallett, "nailed the advice this week," particularly when it came to came putting.
"He said that on my short putts I tend to be – if it's for par, I tend to be a little bit too curious, like I just look at the hole too much and I end up open with my shoulders and my face," said Stark.
"I'm left-eye dominant, so if I just look at the hole like that, then I end up seeing the line too far to the right. So he just said kind of tilt your head and just make sure that your shoulders are aligned."
Stark finished the week fifth in strokes-gained putting, fourth in strokes-gained approach and 20th in strokes-gained off the tee. She was exceptionally solid throughout the bag and extra patient.
"She was just really in the moment," said her comedian-turned-caddie Jeff Brighton, "and hit the right shots at the right time."
Stark, who didn't look at a leaderboard until the 17th, never lost the lead she'd slept on, closing with a 2-under 70 to finish at 7 under for the tournament, two strokes clear of Nelly Korda and Rio Takeda.
Korda, winless thus far in 2025, got within a stroke of the lead after she made the turn in 34, but as Stark made birdie on the par-4 11th, Korda dropped a shot up ahead at the 13th, building the Swede's lead to three.
Korda often describes her relationship with the U.S. Women's Open as complicated, and when asked why that is, said maybe it's because she first played in one at age 14 and feels more emotionally tied.
"I mean, definitely it's gotten my heart broken a couple times," said Korda, "especially last year with coming off the season I was coming off of. To have that showing last year definitely put a dagger into my heart, but that's just golf.
"You're going to lose more than you win a majority of the time. I feel like I actually learn a lot about myself and my game and where I need to improve playing the U.S. Women's Open because it does test every part of your game."
Before this week, Stark was worried that it might be some time before she played decent golf again. Her game felt so far away. Now she's just the 56th player to ever hoist the U.S. Women's Open trophy, and she couldn't stop smiling.
"I wasn't as nervous as I thought that I would be because it felt like I have somewhat control of my game and I kind of know what's going on," she said.
"Then obviously with the pressure and everything, your mistakes get bigger, but it felt like I could just like control anything that was thrown at me really today."