Heading into the tournament as the favorite, Korda justified expectations with a composed closing round of two-under-par 69 at Riviera Country Club, finishing at eight under overall to edge a tightly packed leaderboard by a single stroke.
A decisive birdie on the par-five 17th proved crucial before the American calmly secured par on the final hole to clinch her fourth major championship. The victory also made Korda the first woman since Inbee Park to win the opening two majors of the season.
Hull’s Historic Charge Ends in Heartbreak
While Korda lifted the trophy, Hull once again came agonizingly close to a breakthrough major triumph.
The English star followed an impressive third-round 65 with a final-round 67, matching the lowest 36-hole closing total ever recorded at the U.S. Women's Open. Her weekend performance featured an eagle, five birdies, and three bogeys as she battled her way into contention.
Despite the remarkable effort, Hull finished tied for second alongside Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, marking her fifth runner-up finish in a major championship.
The result extends Hull's frustrating wait for a first major title, although it further underlines her consistency on golf’s biggest stages.
Fierce Battle Unfolds on Final Day
Hull wasted little time applying pressure, opening her round with an eagle at the first hole before adding a birdie at the third to briefly share the lead.
Korda and playing partner Sei Young Kim responded quickly with birdies of their own, while the contest remained wide open throughout the afternoon.
Hull nearly produced one of the shots of the tournament at the par-three sixth, narrowly missing a hole-in-one before tapping in for birdie. However, Korda and Kim also birdied the hole, ensuring the battle remained deadlocked.
Elsewhere, In Gee Chun entered the title race with a chip-in birdie before briefly taking control during the back nine. Hull answered with consecutive birdies after the turn to move into the outright lead, only to surrender momentum with bogeys at the 12th and 14th holes.
With four holes remaining, five players were separated by just one shot, setting up a thrilling finish.
Hull birdied the par-five 17th and produced a clutch par save on the final hole to post the clubhouse lead at seven under. Lopez later matched that mark after a strong finish, but Korda had the final say.
Korda Delivers When It Matters Most
After a long stretch of pars, Korda broke through with a crucial eight-foot birdie putt on the 17th to move ahead of the field.
The American then safely found the 18th green in regulation and needed only two putts to seal victory. Her first putt settled within two feet of the hole before she calmly tapped in to complete a memorable triumph.
The win marked Korda’s fourth worldwide title of the season and her fourth major championship overall. Remarkably, she recovered from being seven shots behind after the opening round to capture the trophy.
"I feel like I'm in a dream," Korda said after her victory.
"Gosh, I just can't even explain how much this means to me."
The 27-year-old also moved within one title of completing the career Grand Slam and became the youngest American woman since Mickey Wright in 1960 to win four major championships.
Hull Reflects on Another Near Miss
Although disappointed, Hull remained proud of her performance after recording her third consecutive top-10 finish in a major.
"It's just frustrating," Hull admitted. "Another second place. I think that's five second-place finishes I've had in majors now, so it's pretty annoying."
"I played really well the last day. Obviously missed a couple of 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."
Despite another painful near miss, Hull’s form suggests she remains one of the strongest contenders to become England’s first women’s major champion since Georgia Hall captured major glory in 2018.