World No 1 Nelly Korda snatched a dramatic victory at the US Women's Open as Charley Hull's wait for an elusive maiden major continued despite a historic weekend comeback in California.
Korda lived up to her billing as the pre-tournament favourite by claiming a one-shot win at Riviera Country Club, posting a two-under 69 to finish on eight under and holding off a congested major leaderboard.
The American rolled in a crucial birdie on the par-five 17th hole and made a two-putt par at the last to become the first female since Inbee Park to win the first two majors of the season, as Hull finished tied-second alongside Mexico's Gaby Lopez.
Hull followed a third-round 65 by adding a four-under 67 to equal the lowest 36-hole total in US Women's Open history, with the Englishwoman mixing an eagle and five birdies with three bogeys during her Sunday charge.
The latest near-miss means Hull now has five runner-up finishes in majors without the elusive victory, while In Gee Chun finished a further shot back in fourth spot ahead of Korda's playing partner Sei Young Kim.
Hull made the dream start to her final round when she followed a 12-foot eagle at the par-five first with a birdie at the third, temporarily lifting her into a share of the lead, only for Korda and Kim to also make a birdie start to restore their overnight buffer.
Momentum moved back with Hull when she went inches away from a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth, tapping in for birdie, but Kim and Korda both birdied the same hole to move to eight under.
Chun saw her title hopes boosted with a chip-in birdie at the seventh, where Korda and Kim both made bogey, while Hull responded to ending her front nine with a dropped shot by temporarily charging into the solo lead with back-to-back birdies after the turn.
Hull missed from 10 feet to save par at the 12th and three-putted the 14th to briefly fall two behind Chun, who saw a birdie-birdie start to her back nine cancelled out with bogeys on her next two holes.
Five players were separated by a single shot with just four holes remaining, with Hull getting up and down to birdie the par-five 17th and then holing from 10 feet to save par at the last and set the initial clubhouse target.
Lopez had birdied three of the first four holes of her back nine, then joined Hull on seven under when she responded to a bogey at the 16th by finding a 15-footer at the last, as Korda edged ahead after ending her par streak with an eight-foot birdie at the 17th.
Korda found the par-four 18th green in regulation to leave her two putts for victory, with the American lagging the first to two feet before tidying up to close out a fourth worldwide win of the year.
Korda's victory is her fourth win of the LPGA Tour season and fourth major title, despite being seven strokes back after the opening day, with the 27-year-old the youngest American to win four women's majors since Mickey Wright in 1960.
"I feel like I'm in a dream," said Korda, who took the $2.5m first prize and moved one win away from the career Grand Slam. "Gosh, I just can't even explain how much this means to me."
Hull was three strokes back heading into the final day and registered her third consecutive major top-10, although she continues her wait to become England's first women's major champion since Georgia Hall in 2018.
"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."
The LPGA Tour heads to Midland Country Club in Michigan for the Dow Championship, a two-player team tournament beginning Thursday, while the next Ladies European Tour event is the Dutch Ladies Open from June 19-21.
The men's major season continues with the US Open at Shinnecock Hills from June 18-21, before the next women's major is the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine from June 25-28, with both live on Your Site. or
