Sweden’s Maja Stark captured her first major title at the US Women’s Open, held at Erin Hills, with a composed performance that saw her hold off strong challenges from the world’s top players. The 25-year-old shot an even-par 72 in the final round to finish seven under par for the tournament, sealing a two-shot victory over World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Japan’s Rio Takeda, who tied for second place at five under.
Stark, who had previously tasted success on the Ladies European Tour with six wins, including the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland a co-sanctioned event with the LPGA finally broke through on the biggest stage in women’s golf. Prior to this triumph, her best major result was finishing second at the 2024 Chevron Championship, where she finished behind none other than Korda.
The final round was a tense affair as Stark held a narrow lead through the first 54 holes, maintaining composure under pressure. Nelly Korda started the day just one stroke behind Stark and made a strong push early on. Korda played a solid front nine, shooting two under to reach six under for the championship. However, despite narrowing the gap, Korda couldn’t sustain the charge through the back nine, falling behind after a bogey on the challenging par-three 13th hole.
Stark made a crucial birdie on the 11th hole, extending her lead to two strokes and applying pressure on her closest rival. Although Korda birdied the next hole, her chance to claw back an eagle slipped away, and she couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. Stark then reinforced her lead with a two-putt birdie at the 14th, moving to nine under and creating a comfortable cushion as the round approached its conclusion.
The closing holes proved challenging for Stark, as she missed the fairway on both the 17th and 18th, resulting in bogeys on each. Despite these late hiccups, her earlier lead was enough to secure victory, highlighting her resilience and ability to manage the course’s difficulties when it mattered most.
Japan’s Rio Takeda finished strongly with a final-round 72, sharing second place with Korda. South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin also impressed with a closing 68, tying for fourth place alongside her compatriot Mao Saigo and China’s Yin Ruoning, both of whom showed solid play throughout the event.
The tournament’s final pairing included Stark and Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, who had posted a strong third-round 68 to earn the spot alongside the leader. However, Lopez Ramirez struggled on Sunday, finishing one over par after a difficult final hole where she triple-bogeyed the eighth, ending her championship at 79 for the day.
Maja Stark’s victory at the US Women’s Open marks a significant milestone in her career and a breakthrough on American soil where she had long sought to establish herself. Her blend of steady play, mental toughness, and timely birdies allowed her to navigate the demanding Erin Hills course, ultimately crowning her as a major champion.
For Nelly Korda, while she came close to claiming her third major title, the result represents her best finish at the US Women’s Open and her third top-10 finish in the event overall. Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out on victory, Korda’s performance confirmed her status as one of the leading figures in women’s golf.
As for Stark, the win adds to her growing resume and sets a new benchmark for her career. With six Ladies European Tour wins already under her belt and now a major championship to her name, the 25-year-old Swedish star appears poised to continue making waves on the global golf stage.
