World’s top golfers expect tough test at US Women’s Open

CHICAGO – Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul and Lydia Ko, the world’s top three ranked golfers in that order, are targeting a Major title none of them has won before when the US Women’s Open tees off on May 29.

Defending champion Yuka Saso of Japan, meanwhile, is seeking her third US Women’s Open crown in five seasons at the par-72, 6,829-yard Erin Hills layout in Wisconsin.

“Conditions here can be very difficult,” Saso said. “I think it’s going to be a good challenge.

“It would be nice to win another one. Any other tournament would make me as happy, but if I win again, it would be more special. Winning keeps me motivated.”

Korda, a two-time Major champion, seeks the only Major title on home soil that has eluded her.

“It’s going to test everyone’s game, very demanding,” the American said. “The bunkers are not easy. It doesn’t really matter how far you hit it. It’s all about accuracy at the end of the day.

“It’s firm. It’s fast as well. Even if you think you’ve hit it good, you can never exhale when you see it stop.”

Ill winds could blow away the chances of contenders, Korda warned.

“Weather plays a pretty big role out here, especially with no trees to block it,” she added. “When it gets windy out here, it’s really going to play with your golf ball.”

The 26-year-old has never finished better than eighth in 10 previous starts.

“It’s the biggest test in the game,” she said. “Definitely has tested me a lot. Not even just our games, our mental as well. I love it.”

Thailand’s Jeeno won her first title of 2025 at the Americas Open earlier in May.

“Game has been a little bit better, ball-striking wise,” she said. “But I think what is doing pretty well is the mental side. I’m just more relaxing, like natural, not forcing anything.”

The 22-year-old chases her first Major victory this week.

“I think the Major win, it should be really tough for me,” Jeeno added. “What I want to accomplish, just one Major, it’s just my process. Definitely going to test my patience. I promise that patience is really the key.”

New Zealand’s Ko, the reigning Olympic champion and a three-time Major winner, would love to collect one of only two Major prizes to have eluded her.

“This would be the one that I’d say, ‘Oh, I wish I was a US Women’s Open champion’,” Ko said.

“It may seem like a large pool of people that are the past champions, but it’s actually quite small, and I would obviously love to be part of that US Women’s Open club.”

Ko, who won her 23rd LPGA title in March in Singapore, says playing on unfamiliar courses with limited practice time makes the US Women’s Open more difficult to win.

“There’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “I don’t know what kind of mindset I’m going to have going into this week but I’m really excited.

“I think you need to have a really good short game and an open mind to how you’re going to play around this golf course, and for the most part, I feel pretty comfortable.

“But I think this is also the type of golf course you need to hit a lot of quality golf shots and also get a little bit of luck.”

While the top three have no experience of winning the US Women’s Open, Saso was only 19 years old when she won her first title back in 2021.

“I could call myself a two-time Major champion, and better than that, two-time US Women’s Open champion,” the Philippines-born Japanese said of her 2024 victory.

“I think it’s a great tournament to have beside my name and, I don’t know, maybe because I dreamt of winning this, winning it twice is much better.”

A third time would definitely be the icing on the cake. AFP, REUTERS