{"id":689808,"date":"2026-06-07T13:06:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T13:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/689808\/"},"modified":"2026-06-07T13:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T13:06:09","slug":"nelly-korda-atop-u-s-womens-open-leaderboard-after-sizzling-third-round-finish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/689808\/","title":{"rendered":"Nelly Korda atop U.S. Women\u2019s Open leaderboard after sizzling third-round finish"},"content":{"rendered":"

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. \u2014 Nelly Korda will arrive at the first tee Sunday at Riviera Country Club facing her best chance yet to win the U.S. Women\u2019s Open.<\/p>\n

As long shadows stretched across Riviera\u2019s fairways Saturday evening, the world No. 1 surged firmly into contention with three consecutive birdies to close out her round. She shot a 4-under-par 67 and sits atop the leaderboard, tied with Sei Young Kim despite a shaky start<\/a> to the tournament.<\/p>\n

Korda will play in the final pairing of this championship for the first time in her career.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always amazing to be in this position. That\u2019s what we work so hard for, to be in this spot. So whatever happens tomorrow happens, but I\u2019m going to give it my all and see what the outcome is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Korda\u2019s scorecard on Saturday included two early birdies, via a chip-in on No. 3 and an 18-foot putt on No. 6, followed by a bogey on the split-fairway 8th hole. She then carded seven consecutive pars before rattling off the trio of birdies that defined her day.<\/p>\n

NELLY IS YOUR CLUBHOUSE LEADER!<\/p>\n

She birdies 18 to get to six-under par at the U.S. Women’s Open!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa NBC pic.twitter.com\/M9Hokw3DDj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

She hit an 8-iron into the par-3 16th within five feet and sank the putt. Then, on No. 17, she hit her longest drive on the par-5 yet \u2014 289 yards down the right side of the fairway \u2014 and smoked a hybrid just long of the green, reaching in two and setting up an up-and-down for birdie. And on No. 18, she hit a 276-yard drive, allowing her to stick her 9-iron to four feet from 154 yards.<\/p>\n

Korda\u2019s final putt of the day curled in the right side of the cup to solidify her second consecutive round of 67 at Riviera after beginning the championship with a frustrating 2-over 73. On Friday, Korda credited her sister, Jessica, a six-time LPGA Tour winner, for giving her a tip that course-corrected her ballstriking. Korda made a grip change, a notoriously difficult element of the golf swing to adjust, before her second round. She moved her left hand to a stronger position on the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt super funky today, but I just trusted it and went with it,\u201d she said on Friday.<\/p>\n

The mid-tournament tweak seems to be working. Korda gained 2.61 shots in approach on Saturday, compared to a loss of 0.65 shots in the same category on Thursday.<\/p>\n

As a result, Korda is in the best position she\u2019s ever been going into the final round of a U.S. Women\u2019s Open. At last year\u2019s championship at Erin Hills, she stood in sixth place after 54 holes and ultimately finished tied for second, her highest finish in the championship since a T8 finish in 2022.<\/p>\n

The 18-time LPGA Tour champion, who won five consecutive tournaments in 2024 but did not win at all on tour in 2025, said that an active shift in her on-course attitude has helped her thrive under pressure. Korda will look to avoid perfection, instead embracing the fun in the challenge of a test like the U.S. Women\u2019s Open.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think last year I really, really wanted it, and the more you want it sometimes the more you stiffen up and you get a little bit more nervous,\u201d she said Saturday. \u201cSo I play my best golf when I\u2019m happy, free Nelly, and I\u2019m kind of joking around out there. So that\u2019s kind of the attitude that I\u2019m going to have tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n