Nelly Korda, Michelle Wie West And More: Who To Watch At U.s. Women’s Open

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Reaching nan acme is simply a dream. But staying there? That’s an altogether different challenge.

Maja Stark has a typical appreciation for that now, a twelvemonth aft winning nan U.S. Women’s Open astatine Erin Hills and emotion nan hefty weight of anticipation that came on pinch it.

For her, nan aftermath of that triumph brought heightened anxiety, and searing disapproval from outsiders erstwhile nan Swedish professional’s play took a dip.

“You get comments and worldly saying, ‘What happened? You conscionable won a major; why do you suck each of a sudden?‘” Stark said astatine nan Chevron Championship successful April. “That does return immoderate power and conscionable makes you attraction connected nan incorrect things. Then I sewage moreover much stressed and anxious.”

Maja Stark plays a changeable from a bunker connected nan 17th spread during nan 3rd information of nan Chevron Championship connected April 25.

Stark said she sought master thief successful nan shape of a intelligence coach, sports scientist and therapist and now believes she’s amended capable to withstand nan scrutiny that comes pinch winning astatine nan highest tier.

That career-shaping unit will beryllium connected show again this week erstwhile nan USGA brings nan U.S. Women’s Open to Riviera Country Club for nan first time, merging nan game’s astir prestigious women’s title pinch a historical venue celebrating its centennial year. The tourney takes spot Thursday done Sunday.

Riviera is simply a theater, sitting debased beneath precocious hillsides that almost service arsenic balconies. Players person described nan people arsenic a shape because it tin consciousness arsenic if you’re being watched moreover erstwhile you’re alone.

“I deliberation there’s thing very nostalgic astir nan facility,” said Jim Richerson, Riviera’s wide manager. “The play people has ne'er had immoderate awesome renovations aliases changes. The clubhouse is nan nonstop aforesaid footprint coming arsenic it was erstwhile it was built successful nan 1920s.”

The U.S. Women’s Open is nan oldest of nan LPGA Tour’s 5 majors, and has agelong served arsenic nan modular by which women’s play measures itself. It’s unfastened to professionals and elite amateurs done a qualifying process, and nan tourney is known for identifying nan subordinate who tin withstand nan astir unit nether nan astir demanding conditions.

NBC will televise nan title and though Mike Tirico will not telephone nan event, he knows nan value of holding it astatine Riviera.

“Without location being a Masters for women’s golf, that tourney really is nan crown jewel of nan sport,” Tirico said. “It has go nan arena group dream of winning. ... It’s conscionable due that it’s contested astatine a spot for illustration Riviera that for truthful galore generations has travel to specify a awesome title trial of golf.”

A look astatine immoderate of nan players to watch:

Nelly Korda

The world’s No. 1 subordinate is simply a awesome needle mover for women’s play and is simply a important root of ratings erstwhile she’s successful contention. She had a grounds 5 consecutive victories past play and 7 overall. Her missing awesome is nan U.S. Women’s Open. She vanished successful a runner-up spot past twelvemonth and near Erin Hills firmly believing a triumph was wrong reach.

Jeeno Thitikul

The erstwhile World No. 1 is still successful pursuit of her first awesome championship. She’s a large mobility people successful nan field.

Lydia Ko

This Hall of Fame subordinate is nan only golfer successful modern Olympic history to triumph a complete group of medals — gold, metallic and bronze — crossed 3 different Olympic Games. She’s still looking for her first U.S. Women’s Open win.

Charley Hull

A colorful characteristic who went viral during nan 2024 Open for smoking a cigarette while signing autographs and playing. She was among a cluster who vanished 2nd successful that tournament. She has 3 victories connected nan LPGA Tour but has yet to triumph a major.

Rose Zhang

Zhang, who has been splitting clip betwixt Stanford and nan LPGA, amassed a singular postulation of victories arsenic an amateur and 3 years ago, became nan first subordinate successful 72 years to triumph an LPGA Tour arena successful her master debut.

Minjee Lee

Lee, an Australian star, has won 3 fields including nan U.S. Women’s Open successful 2022. Her younger brother, Min Woo, won nan 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur, making them nan first brother-sister tandem to triumph nan USGA’s inferior championships.

Yuka Saso

She is nan anomaly of anomalies, pinch zero wins connected nan LPGA Tour pinch nan objection of two U.S. Women’s Open victories. She won nan first of those astatine 19 years, 11 months and 7 days — astoundingly tying her for nan youngest subordinate to triumph nan Open pinch Inbee Park, who was precisely that aged erstwhile she won successful 2008.

Lilia Vu

Vu grew up successful Fountain Valley and was a standout astatine UCLA. She won 2 fields successful 2023 but lately has been battling backmost problems.

Michelle Wie West

Wie West retired 3 years agone aft nan Open astatine Pebble Beach, but is coming retired of status to usage her past twelvemonth of exemption to play astatine Riviera. Her husband, Jonnie West, boy of precocious NBA icon Jerry West, will beryllium caddying for her.

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