Charley Hull falls just short again at U.S. Women’s Open

Charley Hull’s latest charge at a major ended one shot short, leaving her tied for second at the U.S. Women’s Open and still searching for a first major title. At Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, Hull closed with a four-under 67 and a third-round 65, but Nelly Korda held firm with a two-under 69 to win the 81st U.S. Women’s Open at eight under.

Hull briefly moved into a share of the lead when she rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt at the par-five first hole on the final day. The early burst set up a weekend that matched the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Women’s Open history, yet it still left Hull with her fifth runner-up finish in a major championship. For a player who has spent years circling the biggest prizes, the performance was both a statement and a reminder of how narrow the final margin can be.

The result sharpened the question around Hull’s major record. Before this championship, her best finish in a major was a shared runner-up spot at the 2016 ANA Inspiration, and her best U.S. Women’s Open result had been tied 10th at Shoal Creek in 2018. Hull, now 30, joined the LPGA Tour in 2015 and has built a resume that includes three career wins, 45 top-10 finishes and $12.3 million in official earnings. She has also been a four-time Solheim Cup performer for Europe.

Hull said the finish was “frustrating” and “pretty annoying,” a blunt verdict that fit the scale of the opportunity she had created. Her weekend surge suggested real form, not a fleeting flash, but the numbers also show the last hurdle remains the hardest: she can shoot 65 and 67 under major pressure, lead on the final day and still come up one shot short.

Korda’s victory gave the American another landmark in a season already carrying historic weight. She became the first female since Inbee Park to win the first two majors of the year, underlining how high the bar sits at the top of the women’s game. For Hull, the near-miss at Riviera was another strong major finish, but also another measure of the difference between contending and converting.