The 2025 U.S. Women's Open: 13 Parting Thoughts

And just like that, the second women's major of the season is in the books—and though it didn't produce a five-player playoff, there wasn't a shortage of drama to keep us locked in. Maja Stark, the 25 year old Swede, didn't take her foot off the gas fending off world No.1 Nelly Korda and the long-hitting rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez who played herself into people's minds after an impressive U.S. Open debut (sans her 72nd hole debacle).

It was quite the week at Erin Hills with plenty of storylines swirling around—here's what'll stay on my mind in the days after the 2025 U.S. Women's Open.

ATTN: Erin Hills Was a Great Women’s Major Venue!

Wind or not, Erin Hills rules as a major championship venue. It's big, it's long, it demands every ounce of a player's game, and it's absolutely stunning. All week long, I couldn't get over how picturesque the course is...TV and photos just don't do it justice. You have to see it IRL to fully appreciate every contour around the joint.

Ultimately, the set up of any course, especially a major championship hosting course, is critical. And as the week progressed, it became clear the USGA got it very right. Hole locations were masterfully chosen and the the course continued to get firmer after some rain earlier in the week. The greens were unforgiving if you missed your landing zone on the approach, and you better have your speed and distance control dialed.

It's a course of strategy, and Maja Stark executed beautifully.

And The USWO Venues are Only Going to Get Better

The return to Erin Hills begins a strong series of courses to host the U.S. Women's Open. Sites have been confirmed through 2038, including visits to Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Merion, Shinnecock Hills, and Pinehurst.

Next year, the legendary Riviera Country Club will host it's fourth USGA Championship and its first women's major (two years before it'll host the Summer Olympics). I very much look forward to the day where more and more courses can check off hosting their first women's majors. Get these women on the best tracks golf has to offer, and more frequently!

Hot Take...I Don't Mind Pace of Play in Majors Being Slow(er)

This has been the topic of golf conversation in 2025, and I get it! But I think it's getting a bit tiresome. The LPGA has implemented a new policy to help mitigate slow play, but when it comes to the majors...I don't really fault the players for taking an extra moment or two.

I also believe that Erin Hills is a whole other beast within itself. In case you haven't heard...it's kind of a bitch to walk. The course covers 652 acres. Holes aren't necessarily too spread out, but it's extremely hilly and the physical demand is very much a defense mechanism of the course. It's designed to test you on every level, and with the added weight of a major championship and the largest purse in women's golf—I'm more sympathetic to 6 hour rounds.

Nelly Korda's Best USWO Finish

Korda said it herself, she has a "complicated" relationship with this tournament. Prior to this week, her best career finish came in 2022 at Pine Needles where she ended up T-8.

A common discourse I saw online this week was people wondering if the U.S. Open is her kryptonite. If you look at her previous five starts (MC, T-64, T-8, MC, MC) you could certainly make the case that it's a tournament that has Korda's number...until now. I think we're seeing a different Nelly.

We're seeing a Nelly who is learning how to grind. Her putting was another topic of discussion but once again...the greens at Erin Hills made everyone look like they were struggling. And despite putts not dropping, Korda found a way to stay in contention collecting her first top-5 (she finished T-2) in 12 starts.

That Said, Nelly’s Ball Striking Showed up This Week

Shoutout to my friend Sarah Kellam from the LPGA for pointing this out—because it's easy to feel gaslit when online chatter is discussing one thing to heavily, but you're paying attention to something else.

Korda's putting was all the rave, but what kept her in it, and arguably the best aspect of her game at Erin Hills was her ball striking. Her stats were great—she was first in strokes gained off the tee, hitting 56 of 72 greens (second best overall for the week) which enabled her to get the flatstick in hand. She made some crucial putts but perhaps not enough to secure the win—but let's not get caught up in her "loss", this is Korda trending in the right direction.

When Did Public Opinion on Lexi Thompson Shift?

For the better part of like 15 years, Lexi Thompson has been the belle of the ball in women's golf. Fans adore her. She's an incredible ambassador of the game, so when did all of this chatter about seeing her "too much" begin? Better yet, when did talks of her being a slow player start? I have several (rhetorical) questions and want to clear the air a bit—beginning with the retirement debate.

Last year, around the U.S. Women's Open, Thompson announced her retirement, which really was her telling us that she was ready to say goodbye to golf as she knows it. I suppose rendering your limited schedule and exclusivity to certain events is better said by using the word "retirement" that that lengthy explanation, but Thompson never mislead us.

Skratch had reported in February, that it was known from the beginning of the 2025 season Thompson is committed to compete in 10 tournaments this season, including two Majors—the Chevron Championship in April and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (which is just a couple of weeks away). Now, that she's played in the U.S. Open it's unclear after KPMG when will we see her again, it's up to her discretion. I'd also like to reiterate that she’s played in only four other events this year...so if you feel like you've seen her too much, I can assure you that you haven't!

Thompson took to Instagram this morning to also help clear up some of the news circulating around her stating, "[I] Want people to realize our group basically waited on every single hole on the group in front, we were never out of position/warned/ or on the clock.

I’ll be the first one to say I’m not as fast as my playing partners the two days, but I’m also the last person that wants to be out there for six hours. So before you make assumptions, make sure you get all the facts right before basing it on pictures and little clips."

She rightfully called it out, Lexi Thompson isn't a slow golfer—Korda and Charley Hull are famously fast, anyone paired with them will look slow.

It feels like an instance were things were just taken out of context, and I feel like we should all show a little bit of grace to one of the best in the women's game. When Lexi tees it up, we all pay attention—let's not act brand new.

The Rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez Showed Grit

If the 22 year old from Spain has stock...I'm buying it! Julia Lopez Ramirez is a name you're going to want to remember. The long-hitting rookie averaged 290 yards off the tee this week, granting her a huge playing advantage for the hefty yardage of Erin Hills.

She made her moves on moving day, getting to one off the lead and into the final pairing on a major Sunday. She stumbled early, making a handful of bogeys on the front nine, but the kid showed grit—and if the Solheim Cup were played next week, European captain Anna Nordqvist would probably have one of her captain's picks with this one.

Sarah Schmelzel Will Win Her First LPGA Title in 2025

Another name to watch this year is 31 year old Sarah Schmelzel who is a real bad ass. She's the definition of a grinder. She just gets the job done. She had some putting woes this week at Erin Hills, but dug deep to grind out a top-20, going 10 for 10 on starts/cuts made for the season.

She's consistent, dangerously accurate and when the putter is one, makes just about anything. Her maiden win on tour feels inevitable.

Ruoning Yin Cranks it up on Major Sundays

She was one of my players to watch heading into the week, and she proved me right. If she's not the out right leader, Yin finds a way to stay within reach on a Sunday. We saw it at Chevron—she was one of the five in the playoff, and she did it again at Erin Hills, staying steady going 71, 72, 71, 70 to earn another top-5 at a major.

The Women of Japan Are a Serious Problem

It's time we all get real about the golfers Japan is producing in the women's game. Three players found themselves in contention and into the top-10, Chevron champ Mao Saigo, Rio Takeda, and Hinako Shibuno. But let's not forget last year's USWO winner Yuka Saso and Ayaka Furue who won the 2024 Evian Championship. In the last five majors, a Japanese player has won three of them.

With the International Crown on the calendar this year, Japan is shaping out to be the squad to beat.

Yuka Saso (L) and Hinako Shibuno (R) of Team Japan look on from the 15th green during day three of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown at TPC Harding Park on May 6, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

The Coverage This Week Kicked Ass

Can I just say, the hour-long uninterrupted coverage from Rolex and NBC each day was a thing of beauty. From drone angles to updated shot-tracing tech, this year's coverage was beefed up in a major way and a massive thank you needs to be extended to all parties involved. It made the TV-watching product that much more enjoyable, and sets a new standard on women's golf coverage period.

Keep making it accessible and high-quality.

This Championship Purse Changes Lives

I wouldn't call it an underrated aspect of this tournament, but it could be called out more is just how much the U.S. Open changes lives. It's one of the most formidable titles any player could hold, and the it's continuously raised the bar in women's golf as the largest prize fund.

Hailey Cooper, who primarily competes on the Epson Tour just got the largest pay day of her pro golf career, earning a nearly $189,000 for a T-7 finish. A usual prize fund for Epson events sits around $200,000 (the highest is $400,000).

Winner Maja Stark will take home $2.4 million. During the broadcast, the commentators had pointed out that one of Stark's goals is to raise $1 million for charity, and with this win she's one step closer to doing so. A good finish at the U.S. Open changes the situation of a player's finances significantly and that can never get enough praise.

Another First-Time Major Winner—Welcome to the Club Maja Stark

Speaking of winner Maja Stark, she becomes another first-time major winner. It was Mao Saigo at Chevron and now it's Stark, and a round of applause for her performance and staying relatively cool under pressure.

I like Stark...a lot. She plays with so much emotion, you can see exactly what she's thinking and how she's feeling—but she's also insanely present.

All day long, Stark and her caddie stayed in their routine. She had the same process over each shot and executed well, even when she had to make some recovery shots.

Watching her during the final round, I could just see a player in her flow state. She gave up control, something she said that was a focus of hers, "I think that I just stopped trying to control everything, and I just kind of let everything happen the way it happened.

During the practice days, I realized that, if I just kind of hovered the club above the ground a little bit before I hit, I released some tension in my body. I think that just doing my processes well and knowing, giving myself little things like that was the key this week because I don't really want to rely on my confidence for stuff."

This will surely be one hell of a confidence boost for the Swede.