Nelly Korda Struggles in 2026 U.S. Women’s Open Opening Round

Nelly Korda Struggles in 2026 U.S. Women’s Open Opening Round

June 5, 2026 discoverhiddenusacom Sports

World No. 1 Nelly Korda faces an uphill battle at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open after a challenging opening round at Riviera Country Club. Carding a 2-over 73, the reigning Chevron champion currently sits outside the top 50 and trails leader Jennifer Kupcho by seven strokes.

The day began with an unusual disruption for the star golfer. Korda initially took to the course in shoes gifted to her by LeBron James, but she was forced to swap them for her regular pair mid-round after finding the celebrity-gifted footwear too loose for competition.

Did You Know? Korda, Hyo Joo Kim, and Hannah Green—who were grouped together for the opening round—have collectively secured seven of the 13 total victories on the LPGA Tour so far this season.

A Struggle for Consistency

Korda’s round was defined by a series of scrambles and missed opportunities. While she managed a birdie on the par-5 11th, she suffered bogeys on the 12th and 13th, the latter of which required a gritty save after a shanked bunker shot left her more than 72 feet from the cup.

A Struggle for Consistency
Queen City Championship

Despite a cold putter that saw her miss birdie attempts by mere inches on the 14th through 17th holes, she managed to salvage par on the 18th with a 13-foot putt. The second nine brought similar frustrations, as Korda struggled with her driver, an issue she traced back to the Queen City Championship in mid-May.

Expert Insight: Nelly Korda’s admission that she feels “stuck” in her swing suggests that her current struggles are technical rather than merely situational. In high-stakes major championships like the U.S. Women’s Open, the inability to find a reliable release on the driver can turn a manageable course into a gauntlet, forcing a player to play defensively rather than attacking pins.

Looking Ahead to Round 2

Following her 2-over performance, Korda expressed frustration, noting that her play during the round did not reflect the quality of her practice sessions earlier in the week. She plans to head back to the range to address the technical issues that have caused her to pull her shots to the right.

Nelly Korda Round 1 Highlights | 2026 U.S. Women's Open

Korda is scheduled to tee off for her second round at 4:14 p.m. ET on Friday. To climb back into contention, she will likely need to stabilize her off-the-tee performance and find the rhythm that has defined her successful season thus far.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Nelly Korda change her shoes during the round?
Korda started the round wearing shoes gifted to her by LeBron James, but she switched to her regular shoes because the LeBron-gifted pair felt too loose while she was playing.

Frequently Asked Questions
Nelly Korda Struggles

How far back is Korda from the lead?
After her opening round 73, Korda is seven strokes behind leader Jennifer Kupcho.

What specific technical struggle did Korda identify after her round?
Korda noted that she has been feeling “stuck” in her swing and unable to release the club properly, which has caused her to pull her drives to the right.

Can Korda overcome these technical challenges to make a move up the leaderboard in Friday’s second round?