Hull’s Fifth Major Runner-Up Finish Highlights Near Breakthrough
Charley Hull finished as runner-up in a major championship for the fifth time in her career, demonstrating that a major victory is within reach. Although an all-out aggressive approach rarely succeeds at the US Open, Hull nearly made it work at the Riviera Country Club.
At the US Women’s Open held at Riviera Country Club, Hull delivered a record-tying weekend performance, finishing just one stroke behind the dominant world number one, Nelly Korda. The British golfer’s performance in California last Sunday reinforced the belief that her maiden major win is imminent.
Hull’s pattern of slow starts followed by strong finishes in major tournaments was evident once again, reminiscent of her joint runner-up finish at Pebble Beach three years ago alongside Allisen Corpuz. At that time, the 30-year-old from Kettering embraced the mantra "shy girls don't get sweets," ultimately finishing three shots behind the winner.
This time, Hull adopted a more direct and assertive mindset to fuel her "go for it" approach. Following a third-round 65—the lowest score of the week in Pacific Palisades—she produced an adrenaline-fueled closing round of 67, which began with an eagle and a birdie within the first three holes.
"Just go for it," she said. "I love playing golf like that. I feel like sometimes, the first two days, I'm in a keep my head in the game. You can't go for everything because it's just early on, but now I have nothing to lose. I can just go at everything and play free golf like I do at home and it's more fun."
Hull’s weekend total of 132 matched Meg Mallon’s championship record set in 2004, largely due to a significant improvement in her putting. After hitting 13 of 14 fairways on Friday and totaling 63 putts in the first two rounds, she reduced her putts by 10 in the final two rounds despite missing crucial putts on the ninth, 12th, and 14th holes of the final round.
Despite those misses, Hull’s performance suggested she is poised to secure a major title soon. Her composed play on the closing hole was particularly inspiring; faced with a must-make 10-foot putt to set the clubhouse lead, she calmly sank the putt that momentarily put her in position to win.
However, Korda responded with a brilliant up-and-down birdie on the par-five 17th, leaving her needing only a par on the final hole to clinch her second major victory of the year. Korda’s nerve-wracking putt from inside three feet, which circled the hole before dropping, secured her triumph. She described the putt as an "ice cream swirl," having feared she had missed her opportunity.
Hull and Gabby Lopez, who also finished seven under par, shared second place. This marked Hull’s fifth runner-up finish in major championships. Her consistent high-level performances—two runner-up finishes in the last three majors and eight top-20 finishes in the past 11—underscore her increasing proximity to a major breakthrough.
"I just love playing in the majors," Hull said. "If it's a normal week I struggle sometimes getting the motivation. But when it comes to major week, I just love it. If I even just make the cut, I can make a massive charge. I loved it out there. It was so much fun."
How Hull Can Learn From Korda’s Approach
Nelly Korda secured her first US Women’s Open title in the early hours of Monday, adopting a more pragmatic strategy compared to Hull’s aggressive style. She relied heavily on her caddie, Jason McDede, to maintain focus and composure during the final stages.
"When I entered the back nine all Jay and I were talking about was one shot at a time," Korda said. "Not getting too ahead of myself. Not looking at the leaderboard, seeing what other people were doing. It was just a shot at a time."
Korda, who won the Chevron Championship comfortably in April, has amassed four wins and three runner-up finishes in what is shaping up to be an extraordinary 2026 season. No player in women’s golf currently demonstrates a better ability to close out tournaments.
"Major championships are about grinding it out and also having that little window where you can be aggressive," she explained. "I just did a really good job of staying patient and making those up and downs and then knowing that when I had that little window I was going to be aggressive."
Like Hull, Korda had to overcome a challenging start. After an opening round of 73 (+2), during which she struggled with drives veering right, her sister Jessica advised a subtle grip adjustment. Putting, often a weak point for Korda, improved significantly; she gained more than three shots on the greens compared to the field and led the statistics for scrambling.
"Even mid-round I was like, well, will I ever win it?" Korda admitted. "You always have those doubts, you're just a human being."
The US Open tested every aspect of the players’ games, both technically and mentally. The sticky approaches made it difficult to run balls onto the greens, while the firm, sloping putting surfaces challenged players’ touch. Korda’s height helped her approach shots, and her composure in getting up and down repeatedly made the difference.
While Hull’s aggressive style brings out her best, adopting some of Korda’s measured patience and strategic play could benefit her in future major attempts. Meanwhile, Korda can savor the biggest victory of her career so far.
"I don't know if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," Korda said. "But I think I'm just extremely proud of my fight this week and the dream of that little girl that you kind of get to check that off your bucket list."
It remains to be seen when Hull will express similar sentiments, but her recent performances suggest it may be soon.
