Length and Challenge Set Up Test for World’s Best at Familiar Wisconsin Venue

The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open brings the world’s best female golfers to Erin Hills, the Wisconsin course that hosted Brooks Koepka’s memorable U.S. Open victory in 2017. This week, the layout will present a formidable test at around 6,900 yards, making length off the tee a significant advantage.

World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul enters as the betting favorite, with the 22-year-old Thai star looking to capture her first major championship despite already having five LPGA Tour victories to her credit. At such a young age, Thitikul has established herself as one of the game’s dominant forces and appears ready to break through on golf’s biggest stage.

Korda Seeks Redemption

World No. 1 Nelly Korda is among the top contenders as she looks to erase the memory of last year’s disaster at Lancaster Country Club. Korda opened with a shocking 80, highlighted by a 10 at the par-3 12th hole where she found water three times. A victory this week would give her a first U.S. Women’s Open title and third career major.

Other major champions in contention include three-time major winner Lydia Ko, who could move within one win of completing the career Grand Slam with a victory. Minjee Lee, the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open champion, also figures prominently among the favorites.

Parity Creates Opportunity

One of the most intriguing aspects of women’s major championships is the remarkable parity at the top level. The last 10 major championships have been won by 10 different players, making the field much more unpredictable than the men’s majors, where recent winners typically align with world ranking positions.

This parity creates opportunities for longer shots to make serious runs. Defending champion Yuka Saso, despite being ranked just 35th in the world, has won this event twice (2022 and 2024) but enters as a significant underdog this time around.

Dark Horses to Watch

Several players further down the favorites list could make noise this week. Former world No. 1 Lilia Vu missed last year’s U.S. Women’s Open with a back injury but has two major wins and was runner-up in two of the three majors she played in 2023.

Rose Zhang, who burst onto the scene in 2023 with three major top-10 finishes after a stellar Stanford career, is back in the field after missing this year’s Chevron Championship with injury. A Lim Kim, who won the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open in her major debut, ranks 10th in driving distance this season and could benefit from Erin Hills’ length.

Course Setup Favors Power

The lengthy setup at Erin Hills should favor players who can consistently hit it long and straight off the tee. Managing approach shots from long distances and positioning for the right angles will be crucial on a course known for its demanding test and challenging conditions.

With such an open field and the course favoring length, this year’s U.S. Women’s Open promises to deliver another compelling chapter in women’s golf’s most prestigious championship.