Nelly Korda delivered a remarkable second round performance at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open on Friday, May 30, shooting a 67 that vaulted her into a tie for second place. This impressive comeback after an opening round of 72 earned her special online coverage by the USGA, highlighting every shot she made during the day.
The USGA’s digital team created a detailed 16-minute highlight video of Korda’s second round, an approach typically reserved for marquee events like The Masters at Augusta National. This enhanced coverage allows fans to follow her play with unprecedented detail throughout the tournament.
USGA CEO Mike Whan recently spoke about the challenges of expanding viewership for the LPGA Tour, sharing his regrets about the limited television exposure women’s golf has received over the years. He expressed a desire for a future where women’s golf enjoys more consistent network broadcasting to grow the sport’s audience.
“I really believed that I could get us a lot more network hours at the LPGA than I was able to get us. I’ve said this many times. I don’t know if women’s golf — when somebody says to me, Why doesn’t women’s golf play for more money? I would say, well, they generate about a fifth of the viewership of men’s golf.” —Mike Whan, USGA CEO
“But they also get about a tenth of the network opportunities of men’s golf. I am not really sure if it’s [the] chicken [or the] egg. I’d love to have two seasons where women are on network TV for 37 weeks in a row and see what that looks like, but we never really had that opportunity. I have that regret.” —Mike Whan, USGA CEO
Korda’s second round showcased resilience and determination as she climbed 37 positions on the leaderboard. She now shares a 5-under total with a group including Sarah Schmelzel, Maja Stark, Hinako Shibuno, A Lim Kim, and Yealimi Noh. Leading the tournament is Mao Saigo, who stands at 8-under par.
Standing of Nelly Korda and Peers After Two Rounds
After two rounds at the U.S. Women’s Open, Nelly Korda sits in a tie for second place alongside five other golfers, all at five under par. This tight grouping highlights the intensity of the competition and positions Korda as a strong contender going into the weekend.
The current leaderboard top 20 includes a mix of experienced players and rising talents. Mao Saigo holds the solo lead at eight under, followed closely by the cluster of six tied at five under. Other notable players in the top 20 include Linn Grant, Gemma Dryburgh, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Minjee Lee, each within striking distance of the leaders.
Here is the leaderboard for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open after two rounds (top 20 only):
- 1. Mao Saigo: -8
- T2. Nelly Korda: -5
- T2. Sarah Schmelzel: -5
- T2. Maja Stark: -5
- T2. Hinako Shibuno: -5
- T2. A Lim Kim: -5
- T2. Yealimi Noh: -5
- T8. Linn Grant: -4
- T8. Jing Yan: -4
- T8. Chiara Tamburlini: -4
- T8. Jin Hee Im: -4
- T12. Gemma Dryburgh: -3
- T12. Ariya Jutanugarn: -3
- T12. Madelene Sagstrom: -3
- T12. Hye-Jin Choi: -3
- T12. Ina Yoon: -3
- T12. Youmin Hwang: -3
- T12. Rio Takeda: -3
- T19. Auston Kim: -2
- T19. Aline Krauter: -2
- T19. Minjee Lee: -2
- T19. In Gee Chun: -2
- T19. Hannah Green: -2
- T19. Rayee Feng (a): -2
- T19. Lottie Woad (a): -2
- T19. Andrea Lee: -2
- T19. Chisato Iwai: -2
- T19. Julia Lopez Ramirez: -2
Implications of Korda’s Performance and Future Outlook
Nelly Korda’s second round performance not only reinvigorated her position in the U.S. Women’s Open but also signaled her determination to contend for a major championship. The special video coverage by the USGA underscores the growing recognition of her talent and the sport’s effort to elevate women’s golf visibility.
Given the close scoring at the top of the leaderboard, the remaining rounds promise to be intensely competitive. Korda’s ability to rebound after a difficult start could inspire others and attract increased attention to the LPGA Tour, potentially addressing some of the viewership challenges highlighted by USGA leadership.
The momentum from this event may encourage more expansive broadcast opportunities for women’s golf, possibly fulfilling Mike Whan’s vision of extended network exposure. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Korda and the other leaders to see who ultimately emerges victorious at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open.