Latest news with #80thU.S.Women'sOpen
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Maja Stark came into U.S. Women's Open with low expectations and left a champion
Maja Stark came into U.S. Women's Open with low expectations and left a champion Show Caption Hide Caption Maja Stark stays calm under pressure to win the U.S. Women's Open Despite nerves and pressure, Maja Stark stayed in control to capture her first U.S. Women's Open title in impressive fashion. USGA 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."
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Maja Stark came into the 80th U.S. Women's Open with low expectations and left a champion
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."
USA Today
20 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kiara Romero posts lowest final-round score by an amateur in a U.S. Women's Open history
Kiara Romero posts lowest final-round score by an amateur in a U.S. Women's Open history ERIN, Wis. – Kiara Romero leaves Erin Hills with a piece of history. The 19-year-old amateur went out in the first group on Sunday at the 80th U.S. Women's Open and posted the lowest final-round score by an amateur in championship history. Romero's 5-under 67 included six birdies and was a whopping 17 strokes better than her Saturday score. "I think just knowing that I was literally in dead last kind of freed me up into knowing I had absolutely nothing to lose and just playing my game," said the University of Oregon standout. "Knowing I've been playing some good golf. I made the cut to get here. I knew I had it in me and I just tried to stay patient and put that round behind me." The third-round scoring average at Erin Hills was 75.23, and Romero, like many other players, got especially tripped up on the drivable par-4 15th where she made an eight. "I think it was just a lot easier, like everything was just coming to me," said Romero, one of six amateurs to make the cut. "I could read the greens and I knew what club I was hitting. Yesterday all those things were just a mystery to me. It was like I've never played golf before, yeah. Just happens I guess." Romero, who will return to Oregon for her junior season in the fall, had head coach Derek Radley on the bag at Erin Hills. The 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior champion made her USWO debut last year at Lancaster Country Club where she missed the cut.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
High scores, slow play rule the day at U.S. Women's Open, where Nelly Korda still lurks
High scores, slow play rule the day at U.S. Women's Open, where Nelly Korda still lurks ERIN, Wisconsin – Moving day at the 80th U.S. Women's Open was mostly limited to one direction – backwards. With a scoring average of 75.23, LPGA rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez was the only player who managed to break 70 on Saturday at Erin Hills Golf Course, an expansive track that offers no room to breathe. A 4-under 68 vaulted the former Mississippi State standout – who averaged 289 yards off the tee – into solo second behind Sweden's Maja Stark, who shot 70 to get to 7 under. It was a sunny day that required extreme patience, with the broadcast window spilling over 45 minutes thanks to rounds of six hours in threesomes. Germany's Aline Krauter was off in the first group at 10:01 a.m. With Round 2 inexplicably not resuming until Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m., Krauter found out her third-round tee time about 30 minutes before it was go time. Her group then spent most of the front nine on the clock, only to arrive at the par-4 15th tee with a three-group backup. Officials moved up the tee on the 15th to 260 yards, but it played the second-hardest hole of the day with a 4.467 average. Only 11 players made birdie on the hole. Germany's Esther Henseleit hit the green with her tee shot and still made double bogey. "It wasn't the pin I was expecting it to be with it forward," said Henseleit of the right side hole location. Many players hit irons or hybrids off the tee, and only 11 managed to birdie it. Auston Kim quadrupled the 15th and then made double on the 16th. "Honestly, I'm pretty angry, but I think it's good to have good anger," said Kim. "I'm fired up for tomorrow." There were 30 three-putts on the 15th hole in Round 1 and 19 in the second round. World No. 1 Nelly Korda certainly had her patience tested after a front-nine 40 nearly put her out of the conversation. Birdies on three of the last five holes - including a two-putt birdie on the 15th – now leaves her within three shots of Stark. "It's just about having the right mindset," said Korda after her third-round 73. "Like this week, it's like, okay, you're going to make kind of stupid mistakes, as well, because it's just a golf course where you may not hit it in the right spot and it'll go down 40 feet and you'll make – instead of being almost tap-in range, now you have a 40-foot chip where it's running off the back, as well. You just know that your mentality is that you're going to make mistakes, but you can also bounce back here." A trio of Japanese players hold a share of third at 5 under, including Mao Saigo, who's trying to become the first player to win back-to-back majors on the LPGA since Inbee Park in 2013. Saigo won a five-way playoff at the Chevron Championship with a birdie on the first hole. Bogeys on the last two holes Saturday gave her a third-round 75. Meanwhile, Hinako Shibuno, Japan's most popular player, finds herself in contention at the U.S. Women's Open for a second year in a row after finishing runner-up to Yuka Saso last year. The player, known as the Smiling Cinderella, said, "probably I'll be very nervous from the beginning to the end." Shibuno came out of nowhere six years ago to win the British Open in her major championship debut, winning the hearts of a nation. It's an eclectic board, with eight players within four shots of the lead. 2022 U.S. Women's Open champion Minjee Lee is joined by Solheim Cup players Linn Grant and Sarah Schmelzel at 3 under. Stark said she came into the week with low expectations given how she's fared so far this year, with one top-10 finish and three missed cuts in eight starts. "I think I'm just going to try to play freely," said the fiery Stark. "I think that no one has ever played well when they've been playing scared, and I think that's been my habit before, to just kind of try to hang on to it."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
U.S. Women's Open 2025 live updates, leaderboard for Sunday's final round
U.S. Women's Open 2025 live updates, leaderboard for Sunday's final round Let's have a Sunday. The 80th U.S. Women's Open is three rounds in and now there are 18 holes (barring a playoff) to determine a champion. The Open is the second of five majors on the LPGA circuit. Mao Saigo, who won the Chevron Championship, is seeking to be the first women's golfer to go back-to-back in the majors in a decade. U.S. Women's Open leaderboard Keep tabs on the USWO and all week with our official hub and leaderboard. You can also find tee times there. Maja Stark will start the final round at 7 under and with a one-shot lead on Julia Ramirez. Where to watch the 2025 U.S. Women's Open Sunday's final round is exclusively on NBC from 2 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET. What is the U.S. Women's Open playoff format? The USGA uses a two-hole aggregate playoff format if there are any ties after 72 holes. If there are still golfers tied after the two holes, the format flips to sudden death until a winner is determined. The USGA went to this format for the Women's Open in 2018. The previous format was a three- or four-hole aggregate, used from 2007 to 2017. From 1953, when the tournament started, until 2006, the Women's Open playoff was 18 holes held the day after the final round. What's the purse for the U.S. Women's Open? The 2025 U.S. Women's Open will have the largest purse in women's golf, with a total of $12 million being distributed among the professionals in the four-round tournament at Erin Hills. With 26 amateur players in the 156-person field and the cut line being the top 60 players and ties, it's impossible to break down a projected payout. The USGA awards $10,000 to professionals who do not make the weekend. -- Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel How good is Erin Hills? Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin – site of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open – opened in 2006 with a design by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten. Erin Hills was also the site of the 2017 U.S. Open won by Brooks Koepka and the 2011 U.S. Amateur won by Kelly Kraft, among other top-tier events. The USGA will return to Erin Hills, about an hour's drive west of Milwaukee, multiple times in the coming years. Drone view of Erin Hills Golf, the site of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open Check out a drone view of Erin Hills Golf Course, the site of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open May 29-June 1 Erin Hills ties for No. 60 on Golfweek's Best ranking of all modern courses in the United States. It also ranks No. 6 among all public-access courses in a staggeringly strong Wisconsin. Erin Hills is listed at 6,835 yards for the Women's Open, but that will change daily depending on course setup. Par is 72. Where is Erin Hills Golf Course? Erin Hills is in Erin, Wisconsin, about 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The course opened in 2006.
