Nelly Korda Rises Into Contention At US Women's Open Erin Hills

World number one Nelly Korda surged into contention at the 2025 U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills with an impressive second-round 67, featuring seven birdies and moving her to five-under-par, just three shots behind leader Mao Saigo of Japan. Korda, who has had a complicated history at this championship with multiple missed cuts and only two prior top-10 finishes, credited her improved putting for the turnaround after a lackluster opening round. Despite past struggles and the pressure she feels to win this particular major, Korda's patience and strong tee-to-green play have put her firmly in the mix for her first U.S. Women's Open title. The leaderboard remains tight, with Korda tied for second alongside players from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Sweden. British contenders had mixed results, with Gemma Dryburgh leading the charge among them. With weather potentially impacting the tournament and legacy on the line, Korda is poised to contend for what she calls 'the event for me.'