PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Nelly Korda will arrive at the first tee Sunday at Riviera Country Club facing her best chance yet to win the U.S. Women’s Open.As long shadows stretched across Riviera’s fairways Saturday evening, the world No. 1 surged firmly into contention with three consecutive birdies to close out her round. She shot a 4-under-par 67 and sits atop the leaderboard, tied with Sei Young Kim despite a shaky start to the tournament.Korda will play in the final pairing of this championship for the first time in her career.“It’s always amazing to be in this position. 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,” she said.Korda’s scorecard on Saturday included two early birdies, via a chip-in on No. 3 and an 18-foot putt on No. 6, followed by a bogey on the split-fairway 8th hole. She then carded seven consecutive pars before rattling off the trio of birdies that defined her day.
NELLY IS YOUR CLUBHOUSE LEADER!
She birdies 18 to get to six-under par at the U.S. Women's Open!
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 7, 2026She hit an 8-iron into the par-3 16th within five feet and sank the putt. Then, on No. 17, she hit her longest drive on the par-5 yet — 289 yards down the right side of the fairway — and smoked a hybrid just long of the green, reaching in two and setting up an up-and-down for birdie. And on No. 18, she hit a 276-yard drive, allowing her to stick her 9-iron to four feet from 154 yards.
