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Newsweek
a day ago
- Business
- Newsweek
US Women's Open Champ Epic Reaction to Learning She Won $2.4 Million
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It's too early to tell if her victory in the 2025 U.S. Women's Open will be the pinnacle of Maja Stark's career, considering that, at 25 years old, the Swedish star already has an impressive résumé. What is certain, however, is that the paycheck she earned at Erin Hills will be hard to beat. Stark earned $2.4 million, making her first major title even more interesting. Paradoxically, the newly crowned US Women's Open winner had no idea that it was such an extraordinary sum. "I didn't even know that," Stark said, looking almost in disbelief. Maja Stark of Sweden poses with the Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the final round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on June 01, 2025 in... Maja Stark of Sweden poses with the Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the final round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on June 01, 2025 in Erin, Wisconsin. MoreStark didn't seem to have much more clarity about how to use her new financial status. "Maybe move out of my studio apartment can be one thing," she said while laughing. Jokes aside, however, her response proved her to be both humble and responsible. "I don't know. I'm very happy with what I have in my life right now. I think just having the security for the future, I think I'll just be very happy about that." Maja Stark won $2.4 million for her U.S. Women's Open victory. How's she using it? To move out of her studio apartment. 😂 — Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) June 2, 2025 The six-time Ladies European Tour winner won at Erin Hills with a score of 7-under, carding rounds of 70, 69, 70, and 72. Stark entered the final round in the lead but had to fend off several players, including World No. 1 Nelly Korda. "I just didn't want to get ahead of myself," said Stark about her mindset when facing Korda's surge in the final round. "I thought, 'there's still a lot of golf left to be played'. I just felt like, 'people are going to pass me, probably', and I just had to stay calm through that." The Swede managed to hold on to her position, while Korda fell short in her attempt to win the title. However, Stark's nerves got the best of her at the end when she bogeyed the last two holes. "I didn't look at the leaderboards until I was on, like, 17. I caught a glimpse of it. It was nice. 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." "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." Stark is the fifth Swedish player to win a major championship and the first since Anna Nordqvist won the AIG Women's Open in 2021. More Golf: The Memorial: Ben Griffin hit with 6-word message from Scottie Scheffler
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
US Women's Open: Lexi Thompson Fires Back amid Slow Play Controversy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Slow play has long been an issue on the LPGA Tour, sparking debates among players and fans alike. Back in 2024, Lexi Thompson herself had voiced concerns, admitting, "I don't really know why it's gotten worse, but it has unfortunately." Fast forward to the 2025 U.S. Women's Open, and the irony was hard to ignore. Thompson found herself in the spotlight for appearing to play slowly, with Charley Hull visibly frustrated by the pace. From the very first hole, Hull's impatience looked evident as Thompson took her time over a putt, prompting Hull to let out a noticeable sigh—a moment caught on camera and quickly circulated across social media. ERIN, WISCONSIN - MAY 29: Lexi Thompson of the United States looks on from the third tee during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course... ERIN, WISCONSIN - MAY 29: Lexi Thompson of the United States looks on from the third tee during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on May 29, 2025 in Erin, Wisconsin. (Photo by) More Getty Images What followed was even more dramatic: on the par-4 8th, Hull finished ahead of Thompson, and instead of waiting, walked to the ninth tee and sat on the grass, visibly relaxed while Thompson methodically wrapped up her hole. The clip of Hull's frustration went viral on social media, more and more people drew Thompson into the discussion, prompting her to respond. Taking to Instagram, Lexi Thompson addressed the backlash directly. "Wasn't the week I was hoping for," Thompson admitted. But she made sure to set the record straight on the controversy. "I want people to realize our group basically waited on every single hole on the group in front. We were never out of position/warned/or on clock. I'll be the first one to say I'm not as fast as my playing partners the two days, but I'm also the last person that wants to be out there for six hours." As Thompson voiced her views, it raised a critical question: Was she really to blame for the slow pace, or was she just the easiest target? It's worth noting that Charley Hull and Nelly Korda are among the fastest players on the LPGA circuit, making their playing partners look slower by comparison. Meanwhile, Hull herself had her own struggles throughout the round—misreading putts, missing fairways, and battling her own frustrations. In the end, the group wrapped up their round in five and a half hours, a pace far from ideal but not entirely Thompson's fault. Lexi Thompson was not the only one The broader slow-play issue, however, was undeniable. Golf journalist Beth Ann Nichols highlighted the chaos at Erin Hills, tweeting: "Coverage was supposed to conclude at 5 PM!" before revealing that the final group took over three hours just to play the front nine—setting up a possible six-hour round. Coverage was supposed to conclude at 5 pm! — Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) May 31, 2025 The LPGA had already introduced stricter pace-of-play policies back in March, imposing fines and penalties for delays, but enforcement remained inconsistent. As for Thompson, her situation is more complicated than a single tournament issue. She's not competing full-time anymore, making adjusting to major events even tougher. That alone could explain some of the struggles she's facing on the course. But if you know Thompson, she is candid, honest and a competitor by heart. More Golf: Scottie Scheffler Makes Memorial History Not Seen Since Prime Tiger Woods
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Nelly Korda's US Women's Open Charge Comes up Just Short
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Nelly Korda is the biggest star on the LPGA Tour, and on Sunday she had another chance to break out of a very crowded group of women with two career majors. Korda was in contention this week at the U.S. Women's Open, but a Sunday struggle saw her come up just short. In the end, Korda finished in a tie for second place at 5-under par after signing for a 1-under 71 for her final round. Maja Stark lifted the trophy at the end of the tournament, winning her first major championship by two strokes with a score of 7-under par. Korda will rue Saturday's front nine when she looks back at this missed opportunity at Erin Hills. She went out with a 4-over 40 on the front nine during the third round after starting the round at 5-under par, giving herself a massive hole to dig out of. ERIN, WISCONSIN - JUNE 01: Nelly Korda of the United States reacts on the third green during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on... ERIN, WISCONSIN - JUNE 01: Nelly Korda of the United States reacts on the third green during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on June 01, 2025 in Erin, Wisconsin. More Photo byThe World No. 1 showed a lot of resilience, bouncing back from that dreadful start with a bogey-free 33 on the back nine to give herself a chance on Sunday. Unfortunately for Korda, she could never kick it into high gear during the final round, making three bogeys and four birdies to finish T-2. Stark, playing a few groups behind her in the final pairing, was rock-solid all day long and never felt the pressure of closing out her first major while holding onto a sizable lead for most of the back nine. Still, this is easily Korda's best finish at the U.S. Open during her career. She came into the week with just two top 10s and three missed cuts in 10 previous starts, so there are plenty of positives to take from the result. The 26-year old will now start to get ready for the Women's PGA Championship, which she won back in 2021. After a strong week at a very difficult Erin Hills course, Korda will be playing with plenty of confidence moving forward. More Golf: The Memorial: Ben Griffin Honored with 6-Word Message from Scottie Scheffler
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
US Women's Open: 'Home Break-In' has Golfer Using Gabby Ruffles' Clubs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Amari Avery is living proof that overcoming adversity is part of the winning process. The former USC Trojans star is at the center of one of the most bizarre storylines of the U.S. Women's Open, yet she is making the most of her time at Erin Hills. In an incredible turn of events, Avery could not use her set of clubs for the second round of the US Women's Open. She had to play Friday with the clubs of her former Trojans teammate, Gaby Ruffels, who even loaned her a cap. Journalist Paige Mackenzie reported on the event firsthand during the Golf Channel broadcast: "Amari Avery had a really unfortunate and scary situation overnight where someone was trying to break into her rental home," Mackenzie reported. "So they had to pack up all their stuff quickly in the middle of the night and go to a hotel." "She put all her stuff in her travel bag. She and her boyfriend [current USC golfer Gavin Aurilia] have the same travel bag and he took hers by mistake this morning and flew back to LA. So today she's using Gabby Ruffles' entire set after Gabby played her round this morning. She didn't even have a hat." An unfortunate situation led to Amari Avery having to play her second round at the U.S. Women's Open with Gabriella Ruffels' set of clubs. — Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 30, 2025 According to Mackenzie's report, Aurilia's mother is flying to Wisconsin on Saturday to deliver Avery's golf clubs, hopefully before her third round at Erin Hills begins. However, Avery was one of the players unable to finish the second round due to darkness with two holes to play. She resumed play on Friday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, dropping a shot over her final two holes. Avery probably wasn't thrilled about having to play with borrowed clubs, but the truth is that the Ruffels set has served her well. During the second round, she had two birdies and two bogeys on the first 16 holes, giving her an even-par score for the round and a 1-under score for the tournament. Amari Avery of the United States walks off the 18th green during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on May 30, 2025 in... Amari Avery of the United States walks off the 18th green during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on May 30, 2025 in Erin, Wisconsin. MoreUnfortunately, her third round is not off to the start she was hoping for. Avery is 2-over through four holes, leaving her at 2-over for the tournament. It is unknown whether she is playing her own set of clubs or not. If so, she might want to ask Ruffels for hers back. Nevertheless, what she accomplished on Friday is no small feat, as it is her debut in major championships. This result would be doubly significant for her, as not only would she achieve an important milestone by making the cut at the highest level, but she also would do so while overcoming the enormous difficulty of playing with borrowed clubs. More Golf: The Memorial: Max Homa implodes as US Open berth slipping away
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Nelly Korda Puts 'Complicated' US Women's Open History in Rearview
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. World No. 1 Nelly Korda has not had the best track record at the U.S. Women's Open. But you would not know it by her performance on Friday. Nelly Korda fired off a 5-under 67 Friday at Erin Hills to sit inside the top five at the 2025 U.S. Women's Open. She shot up 29 spots on the leaderboard after she opened the 80th U.S. Women's Open with an even par 72. Korda opened the day with a birdie and a bogey before she got hot. She landed three birdies on the par 4 4th, par 4 5th and par 5 7th holes. The No. 1 player in the world added two more at 12 and 14 to get to 5-under on the day. However, she dropped a shot at 15 and added her final birdie on 17 to come home in 34 strokes. It marked her best score in this event, as it is one tournament that does not typically end well for her. In her 11 Women's U.S. Open starts, Korda's best finish was a T8 in 2022 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in North Carolina, and it marked just her second top 10. Last year, she missed the cut at Lancaster Country Club despite having a historic seven-win season. "Yeah, I've had a very complicated relationship with U.S. Opens. But I'm happy to be in the position I am heading into the weekend," Korda said after her round on Friday. ERIN, WISCONSIN - MAY 30: Nelly Korda of the United States looks on from the tenth tee during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course... ERIN, WISCONSIN - MAY 30: Nelly Korda of the United States looks on from the tenth tee during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally 2025 at Erin Hills Golf Course on May 30, 2025 in Erin, Wisconsin. More Photo byHer two bogeys came off short misses, but that did not deter her from spiraling. Erin Hills is an incredibly tough golf course, so those mistakes can often be detrimental. Korda stayed focused and did not let her inconsistent history at the Women's U.S. Open affect what happened Friday. Patience is one of those things she wanted to focus on for this event. "I'm not riding the roller coaster like sometimes I do," she explained. "I've been just trying to be very level-headed and just know if I make a mistake, I can bounce back." She bounced back Friday after both of those squares on the scorecard by making a birdie afterward each time. It resulted in her being in the top 5 for the first time after any 36 holes at the Women's U.S. Open. Nelly Korda has never been inside the top 5 of the U.S. Women's Open leader board after any of her 36 career rounds. Until today!@Ally — U.S. Women's Open (@uswomensopen) May 30, 2025 Korda is sixth in strokes gained approach at +2.64. She is also 10th in strokes gained off the tee at +1.76, and she also hit 11 of 14 fairways. Those stats are huge at this golf course. However, it was her flat stick that helped her shine. Korda made over 100 feet of putts after she made a putter switch earlier this year. Now she uses a TaylorMade Spider Tour V since the Chevron Championship. Korda is three off the leader, Mao Saigo from Japan. Saigo paced the field with a 6-under 66 to sit at 8-under overall. Hinako Shibuno and Sarah Schmeizel both sit tied for second at 6-under. Regardless, the 26-year-old is in contention at another major championship as she looks to win her third career major and her first win of 2025. More Golf: DraftKings Sued for $14.2M over PGA Tour Pebble Beach Pro-Am Result
