After opening with an even-par 72 at the US Women’s Open held at Erin Hills, Nelly Korda entered Friday’s second round trailing the leader by four strokes. Partnered early in the morning session alongside Charley Hull and Lexi Thompson, Korda capitalized on the opportunity to improve her standing, shooting an impressive five-under 67. This performance moved her into a tie for second place, only three shots behind clubhouse leader Mao Saigo, highlighting her resurgence during the tournament’s early stages.
Nelly’s Confidence on the Greens Boosts Her Performance
Recovering from last year’s rare missed cut at Lancaster Country Club, Korda credited her solid play in the first two rounds to her increased confidence when putting. Despite a slow start on day one with just one birdie coming at the 18th hole, she maintained a steady approach and remained positive about her efforts on the challenging course.
Yeah, definitely felt a little bit more confident on the putting green today,
she explained.
Made some putts. Made two kind of silly bogeys. Other than that, felt really good out there.
—Nelly Korda, professional golfer
Reflecting on her opening round, she mentioned that her putting game was consistent even when the putts did not drop.
Honestly, I was hitting really good putts yesterday,
Korda said.
I was hitting it exactly where I wanted to and they just weren’t falling. It was one of those days. Today I did the same thing; I didn’t really try to do anything different, tried to roll it over an intermediate target. 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.
—Nelly Korda, professional golfer
Challenges on the Back Nine Test Korda’s Resilience
Although Korda recorded seven birdies during her second round, she experienced difficulties on the 15th hole. After a solid approach left her with a short birdie attempt, the putt drifted left and missed. Adding to the setback, she missed a subsequent shorter putt for par, which lipped out to the right. Despite these missed chances, Korda remained composed and focused on bouncing back in the following holes.
Yeah, it’s not my first, and it definitely won’t be my last. That’s kind of the mindset that you have to have, that there are some opportunities out there, and I’m hitting it well off the tee, into the greens and putting. I think if I’m confident, then I know that I can bounce back.
—Nelly Korda, professional golfer
Korda’s Holistic Game Must Align for a US Women’s Open Victory
Still seeking her first win of the 2025 season, Korda showed strong potential after finishing tied for fifth at her most recent event, the Mizuho Americas Open. This US Women’s Open, however, will require a comprehensive performance from her, where every element of her game must be sharp to claim the coveted first major title.
Korda emphasized the challenge of maintaining high standards throughout the event.
She reflected,
“I mean, I would say that it’s very demanding in every part of your game, off the tee, into the greens, on the green, too. You never can feel like you can take a deep breath like you can relax because something is always next. It’s a very demanding shot.”
Addressing the mental demands, Korda added,
Same thing with mental. At the end of the day that’s just Major championship golf. That’s why we do what we do is to play these types of golf courses in this type of scenery where it just tests every part of your game.
—Nelly Korda, professional golfer
Mixed Moments Reflect the Pressure of Major Championship Play
On the greens, Korda’s missed putts have drawn attention, but analysts and observers acknowledge that the course at Erin Hills suits many of her strengths. While she is currently tied for 25th after some critical missed short putts, she remains very much in contention as players around her battle the course and conditions.
Her ability to stay calm during pressure moments will be key as the tournament progresses into the weekend. Every stroke will count as she seeks to move closer to her maiden US Women’s Open title.