Nelly Korda turns rebound into share of U.S. Open lead

Nelly Korda stormed through Saturday at the U.S. Women’s Open with a second straight 4-under 67 to finish even with Sei Young Kim at 6-under 207 and claim a share of the third-round lead at Riviera.

At Riviera on a sunny Saturday in Pacific Palisades. Nelly Korda looked like the golfer who decides not to chase mistakes. After a shaky start that left her seven shots off the lead and struggling with her driver following an opening-round 73. she shook off the opening swing and built something steadier. By the time she reached the par-5 17th green in two. then launched a 154-yard approach to 4 feet on the 18th. the world No. 1 was back in the fight.

Korda posted her second straight 4-under 67 Saturday to claim a share of the lead in the 81st U.S. Women’s Open, finishing even with Sei Young Kim at 6-under 207. The finish mattered: three consecutive birdies closed her round.

“It’s always amazing to be in this position,” Korda said. “That’s what we work so hard for, to be in this spot. So whatever happens tomorrow happens, but I’m going to give it my all and see what the outcome is.”

The emotional shift is part of her story this year, and it’s showing up on the scoreboard. After going winless last year. Korda said she changed her approach to her mindset—trying not to dwell on the inevitable mistakes of golf. staying positive and playing freely. She’s even been traveling with Post-it Notes so she can write weekly affirmations and stick them on her bathroom mirror.

The results from that change have been “spectacular all season,” and Saturday only reinforced it. Korda, who has already won three times this year and captured the World No. 1 spot in her first seven starts, is now in position to win the major title she covets most of all. She’s already a three-time major winner. after dominating The Chevron Championship in April. and she’s played her way into prime contention for her second straight major title and first U.S. Open championship.

But it still won’t be easy. Seven players were within two shots of the top, leaving a crowded leaderboard packed with major-winners. First-round leader Jennifer Kupcho and 2015 U.S. Women’s Open champion In Gee Chun were a shot back at 5-under after both posted 69s. Ruoning Yin—one of the second-round co-leaders—was at 4-under along with Gaby Lopez and Nasa Hataoka.

Korda’s turnaround wasn’t only mental, it was tactical in the moments that swing a major. On Saturday. she chipped in from the fringe for birdie on the third hole. then nailed an 18-foot birdie putt on the sixth. The closing stretch was built on aggression and timing. with her final birdies pushing her into a share of the top spot.

She’s also putting herself in rare historical territory. Korda said she had never posted consecutive rounds in the 60s in a U.S. Women’s Open before, not even last year when she tied for second at Erin Hills.

Her belief heading into Sunday is grounded in more than confidence. She pointed to her evolving mental game. while also describing the belief that her own work has been the biggest driver. The shift. she said. was a necessary self-improvement decision encouraged by her parents. her time with a sports psychologist. and even her fiance. who sometimes urges her to be more positive.

“So there has been a bunch of work that I’ve done with other people, but I would say the person that makes the biggest change is myself,” Korda said.

She also framed last year as the warning sign. “I’m not going to get too frustrated,” Korda said. “I think last year I really. really wanted it. and the more you want it. sometimes the more you stiffen up and you get a little bit more nervous. So I play my best golf when I’m happy. free Nelly and I’m kind of joking around out there. That’s kind of the attitude that I’m going to have (Sunday).”.

At the same time. Korda’s lead share came with a stern reminder that this tournament is never only one story. Kim—who has been steady all week—stayed locked in after starting the tournament with pace. She was one shot off the lead after each of the first two rounds. then shot 68 Saturday after a birdie on 17 to remain right on target with Korda. Kim, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner, said patience was the key.

“I tried to keep my patience and just waited for a chance,” Kim said. “When the chances came to me, I just made it. … When I finished. that was the first time I saw the scoreboard with a lot of good golfers. especially Nelly and then Gaby. who I played with. It always feels great to play with great players. I’m competitive, so it’s really like I’m lucky to play with them.”.

Both second-round leaders remain in contention as well. Southern California native Alison Lee. who was one shot off the lead on the back nine. slipped late with three late bogeys and finished at 3 under. Lee—who gave birth to son Levi 15 months ago—would be only the fourth mother to win the U.S. Open and the first since Juli Inkster in 2002.

Yin’s Saturday included damage control. She made three bogeys on the front nine before getting back to 4 under with two late birdies. Her 71 also gave her a record run: she became the first golfer in U.S. Open history to post seven consecutive rounds of even par or better.

Charley Hull added another jolt to the chase by producing Saturday’s low round, a 65 built on seven birdies. Hull moved to three shots back of the lead. Asterisk Talley—an amateur from California’s Central Valley—shot a 66 and stayed within reach.

For now, Korda is back in the position she understands too well to take for granted. She’s had consecutive 60s in majors before, but never in the U.S. Women’s Open—until this week. And with the biggest crowd of the week on the grounds of this 100-year-old country club. in a tournament where seven players sit within two shots. Sunday promises the same pressure she’s been trying to rewrite in her own mind.

Nelly Korda Sei Young Kim U.S. Women’s Open Riviera Country Club LPGA Jennifer Kupcho In Gee Chun Ruoning Yin Gaby Lopez Nasa Hataoka Charley Hull Alison Lee Asterisk Talley