My 5 Picks To Win The US Women’s Open (And Why)
Here are five players I expect to be challenging for the Major trophy on Sunday at Lancaster Country Club
![Nelly Korda at 2023 US Women's Open](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jCS9EiY9KCA3jifaGHPDiU-415-80.jpg)
As we head into the second women’s Major of the year, the US Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, the question that everyone is asking is, “Can Nelly Korda make it 7 out of 8 titles in a row?”
World No 1 Korda is one of my 5 picks, but golf can sometimes destroy the best players when they’re least expecting it, especially on such a demanding course that is going to test every aspect of a player’s game.
There’s also a Major at stake and record prize money of $12m, so who can handle the pressure down the final stretch? Here are my picks of the players I expect to be challenging for Major glory and the impressive US Women’s Open trophy.
Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda is riding an incredible wave right now. Having had some brief time off to recharge, she’s relaxed coming into the tournament and at ease to know she has her full team on hand this week if there is any reason she needs to iron out her swing.
Korda has an incredible golf game, but her mindset is where she excels, having the ability to stay in the present, which is such a valuable asset, especially when the stakes are high. If she can remain comfortably in her bubble, there is no reason to believe that she cannot continue this remarkable run of form and win her second Major title this year.
Hannah Green
Australian Hannah Green has won two LPGA titles this year and is consistently knocking on the door, most recently losing to Nelly Korda earlier this month by one shot at the Mizuho Americas Open. It could be her time to win big if she can drive the ball straight off the tee and avoid the penal rough.
Green ranks 1st on the LPGA stats for putts per green in regulation (1,73) and has a putting average of 29.21, so her putting skills could prove to be very beneficial on the small and undulating greens.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Charley Hull
After two-time runner up spots in Majors in 2023 and five second-place finishes overall, I believe, and hope, that this is the year that Charley Hull makes it across the line to Major glory. She’s had a relatively quiet start to the season, just two top-10 finishes, but Hull always seems to up her game when it comes to Majors.
Like Korda, Hull is a big hitter and her strength and creative play gives her the ability to scramble, which is testament to her ranking 3rd in greens hit in regulation. If she can focus and keep it together for four rounds, this could be her first Major title.
Brooke Henderson
In my opinion, Brooke Henderson doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. The Canadian has won 13 LPGA Tour titles in total including two Major championships, so she knows how to get the job done. Let’s also remember that she competed in the 2015 US Women’s Open when it was last held at Lancaster Country Club and achieved her best finish in the tournament, tying in 5th place, so the course must suit her game.
Aside from the last two events, Henderson has performed well this year, claiming 5 top-10 finishes, and one of her three third place spots came at the previous Major, the Chevron Championship.
Rose Zhang
It was Rose Zhang who ended Nelly Korda’s five-tournament winning streak earlier this month at the Cognizant Founders Cup, denying Korda’s feat of becoming the first player in LPGA history to win six consecutive starts.
Zhang is an amazing young talent, as witnessed on her way to winning her second LPGA title when she birdied four of the last five holes. From fairway to green, she’s very consistent, and ranks 4th in scoring average at 70.13. She withdrew from the last tournament due to illness, but if she finds her form, I believe the 21-year-old American is in the running to clinch her first Major title.
Alison Root has over 25 years experience working in media and events, predominantly dedicated to golf, in particular the women’s game. Until 2020, for over a decade Alison edited Women & Golf magazine and website, and is now the full-time Women's Editor for Golf Monthly. Alison is a respected and leading voice in the women's game, overseeing content that communicates to active golfers from grassroots through to the professional scene, and developing collaborative relationships to widen Golf Monthly's female audience across all platforms to elevate women's golf to a new level. She is a 16-handicap golfer (should be better) and despite having had the fantastic opportunity to play some of the best golf courses around the world, Kingsbarns in Scotland is her favourite.
-
How Many Birdies Scottie Scheffler Has Made In 2024
Scottie Scheffler has had an incredible year he has largely dominated throughout, but how many birdies has the World No.1 achieved?
By Mike Hall Published
-
Omega European Masters Tee Times: Round Four
Matt Wallace leads the way at the Omega European Masters as he looks for his fifth DP World Tour win
By Mike Hall Published
-
Curtis Cup Stars Sara Byrne And Mimi Rhodes Turn Pro
The Great Britain & Ireland teammates have announced that they have left their amateur careers behind
By Mike Hall Published
-
Junior Solheim Cup Teams 2024: USA And Europe Line-Ups
The 13th edition of the Junior Solheim Cup takes place at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia - here are the teams
By Mike Hall Published
-
Solheim Cup Tee Times And Full Schedule 2024
Discover when each session of the 2024 Solheim Cup is taking place at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
GB & I Win Curtis Cup For First Time Since 2016 In Thrilling Climax: As It Happened
GB & I defeated Team USA 10.5 - 9.5 at Sunningdale in a fascinating Sunday finish that swung both ways before the hosts finally sealed the deal
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Curtis Cup Tee Times: Sunday Singles
A thrilling finish is in prospect at Sunningdale with the Sunday singles as Great Britain and the US compete for the Curtis Cup
By Mike Hall Published
-
Big Names Spotted Supporting Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup Team At Sunningdale
Charley Hull and Justin Rose are among the high-profile players who have been offering their support to the hosts as it takes on the US in the biennial match
By Mike Hall Published
-
Dunning Golf Reveals Team USA's Solheim Cup Uniforms
Dunning Golf has brought patriotism to life through the uniforms of the US Solheim Cup team
By Alison Root Published
-
9 Notable Players To Miss The Solheim Cup
Some of the world’s best-known players will compete on the US and European teams at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club match, but several other notable names have missed out
By Mike Hall Published