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Nelly Korda surges up the leaderboard at 80th U.S. Women's Open after second-round 67
ERIN, Wisconsin – It's hard to remember to exhale at a place like Erin Hills, where catastrophe lurks around every corner. Player after player delivered the same message on Friday: It's only going to get tougher.
For world No. 1 Nelly Korda, a nap might be in order after a stout 5-under 67 put her in solo second midway through the 80th U.S. Women's Open. Mao Saigo, winner of the year's first major, paces the field at 8 under after a second-round 66, three clear of Korda. Three players are in the clubhouse at 4 under, including Linn Grant, Jing Yan and Chiara Tamburlini.
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Korda, who is staying with her parents this week at a nearby house on a lake, posted seven birdies en route to her lowest score in 11 U.S. Women's Open appearances.
'My parents are here,' said Korda of potential late afternoon plans, 'so maybe play some ping-pong with my dad.'
More: How hard does the wind need to blow at Erin Hills for a stern U.S. Women's Open test?
Erin Hills is a 'unique test'
The expansive Erin Hills provides a unique test for the women this week, one that Korda believes requires excellence throughout the bag.
'You never can feel like you can take a deep breath,' she said, 'like you can relax because something is always next. It's a very demanding shot.'
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Korda's longtime caddie, Jason McDede, said he tries not to overdo anything, but that he walked the course at least three times before his boss arrived. There wasn't much difference between the opening 72, he said, and the 67. It's simply that a few more putts dropped.
'I didn't really try to do anything different, tried to roll it over an intermediate target,' echoed Korda. 'My distance control has been really good on the putting green, so hopefully I can keep trending in the right direction heading into the weekend.'
McDede believes that driver is the most important club at Erin Hills, where the fairways are more generous than most, but the price of missing runs high.
'If you drive it really good, ' he said, 'I think you'll have opportunities.'
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Korda hit 11 fairways in the second round and currently ranks ninth in strokes gained off the tee.
May 30, 2025; Erin, Wisconsin, USA; Nelly Korda lines up a shot at the 18th green during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Nelly Korda switched putters in the spring
She switched putters earlier this spring but has stuck with the TaylorMade Spider Tour V since the second round of the Chevron Championship. McDede said Korda is a line-oriented person and this one looks clean.
The two-time major champion has never contended in this championship, with her best finish, a share of eighth, coming at Pine Needles three years ago.
'I'm not riding the roller coaster like sometimes I do,' she said of her patience this week. 'I've been just trying to be very level-headed and just know if I make a mistake that I can bounce back.'
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Japan's Saigo survived a wild finish at the Chevron to claim her first major title and then endured an even more eventful champion's leap as it turns out she can't swim. Saigo leads the field in strokes gained putting and ranks fourth in strokes gained approach.
'What I think the most important thing in the major is that I have to make the one stroke, one hit be very valuable' said Saigo through an interpreter, 'and I have to reset my mind and then approach to each stroke.'
Japanese players have won three of the last five LPGA majors.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nelly Korda surges up the leaderboard at 80th U.S. Women's Open
