The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills wrapped up on June 1 with a thrilling display of golf, as Sweden’s Maja Stark captured her first major championship in style. The 25-year-old golfer held onto the lead she took late in the third round, finishing the tournament at 7-under par to secure a two-stroke victory over a competitive field. This victory places Stark among an elite group of Swedish champions, joining legends Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann as U.S. Open winners from Sweden.
Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wisconsin, served as a fitting stage for this major event. Known for its challenging layout and scenic beauty, Erin Hills opened in 2006 and has hosted several prestigious tournaments, including the 2017 U.S. Open won by Brooks Koepka and the 2011 U.S. Amateur. For the Women’s Open, the course was set at 6,835 yards with a par of 72, adjusting daily to test the players’ skill and strategy.
Stark’s steady play throughout the final round was a masterclass in composure and precision. Starting with five consecutive pars, she broke through with a birdie on the 6th hole, moving to 8-under and extending her lead. Her clutch birdie on the 11th hole, a 14-foot putt, pushed her lead to three strokes over the chasing pack, including World No. 1 Nelly Korda, Hinako Shibuno, and Rio Takeda. Stark’s birdie on the 14th hole, where she narrowly missed an eagle putt but tapped in for another birdie, further cemented her advantage with just four holes remaining.
Nelly Korda, the American world number one and two-time major champion, made a strong charge during the final round, highlighted by back-to-back birdies on holes seven and eight to reach 6-under. Despite her efforts, including a solid 1-under 71 on the day, Korda finished tied for second place at 5-under par alongside Japan’s Rio Takeda. This marked Korda’s best finish at the U.S. Women’s Open to date, improving on her previous best of tied for eighth in 2022. However, she candidly described her relationship with the tournament as “still complicated,” calling the week “an absolute heartbreaker” but emphasizing the learning experiences golf provides.
Rio Takeda’s tournament was notable for resilience amid adversity. On Sunday, she faced a daunting lie in the rough near a bunker on the fifth hole, nearly missing the ball entirely but managing to clip it into the sand. This mishap led to a double bogey, dropping her back in the standings despite being tied for second earlier in the round.
The leaderboard also featured a three-way tie for fourth place at 4-under par, including Hyejin Choi, Ruoning Yin, and Mao Saigo, who won the Chevron Championship earlier in the year. Mao Saigo, who led after the second round, was a prominent contender throughout the event and ended the tournament just three strokes behind Stark.
Among the amateurs, the world’s top-ranked amateur Lottie Woad stood out by finishing at 5-over par, two strokes ahead of fellow amateurs Farah O’Keefe and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra. Woad was one of six amateurs to make the cut from a field of 26, showcasing the depth of emerging talent in women’s golf.
Financially, the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open was historic, boasting the largest purse in women’s golf history at $12 million. Thanks to a partnership with presenting sponsor Ally, the purse has seen a dramatic increase, representing a 200 percent rise since 2014 and more than doubling the $5.5 million purse from just four years ago. The champion, Maja Stark, earned a record $2.4 million, the largest winner’s check in women’s golf aside from the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship. The tournament’s payout structure rewarded depth, with all top 10 finishers earning over $280,000, the top 25 at least $100,000, and every professional in the field receiving $10,000 regardless of making the cut.
The final day’s coverage was broadcast live on NBC from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, with Peacock providing morning and afternoon featured group coverage. Fans at Erin Hills and viewers worldwide witnessed a well-paced and exciting final round, notably quicker than the previous day’s nearly six-hour rounds. Early tee times featured amateur Kiara Romero, who impressed with a 5-under 67, the low round of the day, before finishing her tournament at 8-over par.
Off the course, the tournament saw its share of drama and discussion, including social media commentary from Lexi Thompson, who missed the cut. Thompson addressed misconceptions about pace of play and clarified her intentions regarding her playing schedule, emphasizing that she is not retiring but reducing her full-time participation on the LPGA Tour.
As Maja Stark celebrated her victory, her caddie Jeff Brighton donned a Green Bay Packers’ iconic cheesehead hat, adding a local flavor to the championship moment. Stark’s triumph not only adds a new chapter to her career but also enriches the legacy of Swedish golf on the world stage.
The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills will be remembered for its competitive spirit, record-breaking purse, and the emergence of a fresh major champion. With the LPGA season continuing, all eyes will be on Stark and her peers as they build on this thrilling chapter in women’s golf.
