Sweden’s Maja Stark wins the U.S. Women’s Open for first major

ERIN, Wis. — Maja Stark had misplaced her confidence heading into the U.S. Ladies’s Open.

Her determination to cease worrying about that sparked her to the most important title in ladies’s golf.

The 25-year-old Swede shot an even-par 72 on Sunday and stayed forward all day. Her four-day whole of 7-under 281 at Erin Hills left her two strokes forward of top-ranked Nelly Korda and Japan’s Rio Takeda.

“I believe that I simply stopped attempting to regulate all the pieces, and I simply form of let all the pieces occur the way in which it occurred,” Stark mentioned. “Throughout the apply days, I spotted that, if I simply form of hovered the membership above the bottom somewhat bit earlier than I hit, I launched some pressure in my physique. I believe that simply doing my processes nicely and understanding, giving myself little issues like that, was the important thing this week as a result of I do not actually need to depend on my confidence for stuff.”

Stark grew to become the sixth Swede to win a ladies’s main, and the primary since Anna Nordqvist within the 2021 Ladies’s British Open. Stark additionally received her second profession LPGA Tour title.

The previous Oklahoma State participant is the primary Swede to win a U.S. Ladies’s Open since Annika Sorenstam earned her third title in 2006. The one different Swede to win this occasion was Liselotte Neumann in 1988.

“They texted me yesterday and simply form of mentioned, ‘Carry it house,'” Stark mentioned.

Stark’s steadiness made the distinction as she held off Korda and a bunch of different challengers.

Korda closed with a 71, and Takeda had a 72 to tie for second. Hye-Jin Choi (68), Ruoning Yin (70) and Mao Saigo (73) tied for fourth at 4 below. Hailee Cooper (70) and Hinako Shibuno (74) have been 3 below.

Stark’s taking part in associate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, fell out of competition early on her method to 79 that left her tied for nineteenth. Lopez Ramirez, who entered the day only one shot off the lead, had a triple bogey on 18.

This was as shut as Korda has come to successful a U.S. Ladies’s Open.

Korda mentioned her “difficult relationship” with the U.S. Ladies’s Open this week, as her finest earlier end was a tie for eighth place in 2022 at Pine Needles. She missed the minimize at this match final yr after posting an 80 within the opening spherical.

“I performed this occasion once I was 14 years previous, so possibly somewhat bit extra emotional about it,” Korda mentioned. “I imply, undoubtedly it is gotten my coronary heart damaged a pair occasions. … To have that exhibiting final yr undoubtedly put a dagger into my coronary heart, however that is simply golf. You are going to lose greater than you win a majority of the time.

“I really feel like I truly study so much about myself and my sport and the place I would like to enhance taking part in the U.S. Ladies’s Open as a result of it does check each a part of your sport.”

Korda birdied Nos. 7 and eight however missed a 9-foot birdie putt on No. 9 that will have tied her for the lead. Korda’s birdie try on No. 9 got here minutes after Stark’s bogey-free streak ended at 21 on No. 7.

Stark then prolonged her result in three by making a 14-foot birdie putt on No. 11 instantly after Korda missed a par putt of just below 5 toes at No. 13.

Korda, Shibuno and Takeda acquired inside two strokes of Stark with birdies on the par-5 14th, although Korda missed a 14-foot eagle putt and Shibuno missed an eagle try from 9½ toes.

Stark then made a birdie of her personal on No. 14 to regain her three-stroke benefit at 9 below. She maintained that lead regardless of bogeying the final two holes.

“I did not take a look at the leaderboards till I used to be on like 17,” Stark mentioned. “I caught a glimpse of it. It was good. I wasn’t as nervous as I assumed that I might be as a result of it felt like I’ve considerably management of my sport and I form of know what is going on on.”

Stark credited caddie Jeff Brighton, a former standup comic who helped hold her free by telling jokes and ensuring she did not dwell on what was at stake.

“We simply form of tried to speak about some stuff and never be too into my very own putt,” she mentioned.

Mentioned Brighton: “I might say Maja’s fairly an intense participant. She tries actually arduous and is admittedly aggressive, so when [a player’s] intense, you are attempting between photographs to only get their head away from golf.”

He spoke sporting a cheesehead hat just like those seen at Inexperienced Bay Packers video games

Stark maintained her poise nicely sufficient to earn a $2.4 million prize in probably the most profitable occasion of the yr. Now she simply wants to determine tips on how to spend her winnings.

“Possibly transfer out of my studio condo might be one factor,” Stark quipped.