England’s Charley Hull suffered more major heartbreak as world number one Nelly Korda claimed her first US Women’s Open title.
Hull moved to the top of the leaderboard early in the final round at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, but finished one shot behind Korda on seven under par – her fifth runner-up spot in major championships.
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez finished alongside Hull in second, with South Korea duo In Gee Chun and Sei Young Kim a shot further back.
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“It’s just frustrating,” said Hull. “Another second place, I think that’s five second-place finishes I’ve had in majors now.
“It’s pretty annoying, but I played really well the last day. Obviously missed a couple putts on the back nine, but it was quite windy and I hit the ball fantastic, so fair play to Nelly Korda for back-to-back wins.
“I just love playing in the majors. Like I pretty much only get up for the majors.
“I loved it out there. It was so much fun. The crowds were great and it was nice to see many so many young kids around.”
Hull, who was seven strokes off the pace at halfway, started the day three shots off the lead but got off to a lightning start with an eagle three at the first hole.
She added two more birdies before dropping a shot at the ninth, with back-to-back birdies to start the back nine putting her back in pole position.
Dropped shots on the 12th and 14th derailed her momentum but a birdie at the 17th after getting up and down from a greenside bunker moved her back into a share of the lead.
Unable to hole her chip from behind the 18th green for a closing gain, Hull holed the return putt to set the clubhouse pace and equalled the lowest round of the day with a 67.
Behind her in the closing group, Korda had nine straight pars before she birdied the par-five 17th to edge one stroke ahead.
Korda had a scare as her short par putt to clinch the title rolled around the lip of the hole before dropping to secure her fourth major title with a closing 69.
It followed her success in the Chevron Championship in April, meaning she holds the first two major crowns of the season.
“That 14-year-old girl that stepped on the range at Sebonack in 2013, I mean, her dream has just come true sitting next to this trophy right now,” said Korda.
“It’s really hard to put into words.”
