World No. 1 Recovers from 40 on Opening Nine with Late Birdie Barrage at Erin Hills

ERIN HILLS, Wis. — The contrast between Nelly Korda’s demeanor after nine holes and 18 holes on Saturday at the U.S. Women’s Open couldn’t have been more stark.

Stone-faced frustration gave way to smiles and laughter after the world No. 1 somehow salvaged her championship hopes with a remarkable back-nine recovery at Erin Hills. Despite shooting a 1-over 73 in brutal conditions, Korda managed to stay in the hunt at 4-under, just three shots behind 54-hole leader Maja Stark.

Playing in the final group during the third round, Korda endured a nightmare start that saw her card four bogeys against no birdies on the front nine. The disastrous opening half dropped her five shots off the pace and had her championship dreams hanging by a thread.

Dramatic Turnaround

But Korda showed the heart of a champion on the back nine, mounting a stirring comeback with birdies at the 14th, 15th, and 18th holes. The final birdie proved to be the most dramatic, as her 6-foot putt hit the right edge of the cup and took a scenic route around the hole before dropping.

“I may have pushed it just a tiny bit, but right as it was like kind of midway there, I’m like, oh, my gosh, I missed it right, and then sometimes you just have to get lucky with a nice ice-cream swirl around the cup,” Korda said with a laugh.

Championship Still Within Reach

The up-and-down round keeps Korda’s hopes alive for her first victory of the 2025 season and her first U.S. Women’s Open title. After enduring a winless start to the year despite being ranked No. 1 in the world, Korda finds herself well-positioned heading into Sunday’s final round.

Her ability to rebound from the front-nine struggles demonstrates the mental toughness that has made her one of the game’s premier players. With just three shots separating her from the lead, Korda will have a legitimate chance to claim her first major championship on American soil.

The final round promises to be an exciting conclusion as Korda looks to complete her remarkable weekend recovery and finally break through for that elusive first win of 2025.