Nelly Korda ‘dreamt about’ winning US Women’s Open since she was little
Nelly Korda broke through to win her first U.S. Women’s Open title at Riviera, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Nelly Korda still faces an uphill climb in her attempt to complete the career grand slam at the AIG Women’s Open, but the world’s No. 1-ranked women’s golfer found her footing after a rough start to the final major of 2026.
Korda carded a 3-under 68 during Friday’s second round at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in England, moving into the top-15 on the leaderboard heading into the final two rounds this weekend.
She sits six shots back of current leader Haeran Ryu, who played in the same group with Korda. Ryu is also trying to complete the career grand slam.
Korda bounced back after a 2-over 73 on Thursday and an early bogey at No. 3 in Round 2, finding momentum with a long birdie putt at the fourth hole that got her round going. She followed with three more birdies on the front nine before responding to two bogeys on the back nine with birdies on the ensuing hole.
Korda, 28, won the Chevron Championship in April and the U.S. Women’s Open in June for the first time, overcoming a seven-shot deficit in the first round of the latter tournament. It gives her four major titles overall, and winning the AIG Women’s Open played on links courses would add her to the current list of seven women’s golfers to have completed the career grand slam, according to the LPGA.
“You never know what’s going to happen. It’s golf. It’s links golf,” Korda told reporters, according to Golfweek. “Just going to try to have the same attitude I had today going into the weekend.”
Nelly Korda score today
Here’s what Nelly Korda’s Round 2 scorecard looked like at the AIG Women’s Open, with number of strokes used on each hole in parentheses:
- No. 1: Par (3)
- No. 2: Par (4)
- No. 3: Bogey (5)
- No. 4: Birdie (3)
- No. 5: Par (3)
- No. 6: Birdie (4)
- No. 7: Birdie (4)
- No. 8: Par (4)
- No. 9: Birdie (2)
- No. 10: Bogey (5)
- No. 11: Birdie (4)
- No. 12: Bogey (4)
- No. 13: Birdie (3)
- No. 14: Par (4)
- No. 15: Par (4)
- No. 16: Par (4)
- No. 17: Par (4)
- No. 18: Par (4)
Nelly Korda Round 2 highlights at AIG Women’s Open
Where Nelly Korda stands on AIG Women’s Open leaderboard
Nelly Korda (-1) sits in a tie for 14th place on the 2026 AIG Women’s Open leaderboard as Round 2 action wraps up at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Friday, July 31. Here’s a look at the top of the leaderboard heading into the third round on Saturday:
- 1. Haeran Ryu: -7
- 2. Shiho Kuwaki: -6
- T3. Yealimi Noh: -5
- T3. Jeeno Thitikul: -5
- 5. Soo Bin Kim: -3
Click here for a complete breakdown of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open ahead of Round 3 tee times.