Charley Hull admitted another near-miss in a major was “pretty annoying” after narrowly falling short in her bid for a historic comeback victory at the US Women’s Open.
Hull was seven strokes off the halfway lead and outside the top 40 after rounds of 73 and 72 over the first two days at Riviera Country Club, only to charge back into contention with a third-round 65 – the lowest of her major career – on Saturday and a strong start to Sunday’s final round.
The Englishwoman started the final day three back but briefly held the solo lead after following a front-nine 32 with back-to-back birdies, with Hull still in the title mix despite bogeying two of her next three holes.
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Hull made a dream start to the final day of the US Women’s Open, holing for an eagle on the par-five first hole
Hull birdied the par-five 17th and holed from 10 feet to par the last and set the clubhouse target, but ended tied-second alongside Mexico’s Gaby Lopez as world No 1 Nelly Korda claimed a one-shot win.
“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, but 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 [major] wins.”
Hull finished runner-up in a major for a fifth time in her career, and her second in four years at the US Women’s Open
Hull carded an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys during an eventful final day, where she remained in a share of the lead until Korda birdied her penultimate hole and then closed out her fourth major victory.
On ending the week on seven under, one behind Korda, Hull said: “I was watching [other scores] but I was thinking if I get to 10 under, that should be good enough, so I was just trying to chase to get to 10 under. Obviously I didn’t get there, but I hit a great shot into the last hole. “
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Watch the moment Nelly Korda won a fourth major championship as she claimed the US Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club
Can Hull turn ‘love’ for majors into victories?
Hull will be among the favourites to challenge in the final three women’s majors of the year, with the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (June 25-28), the Evian Championship (July 9-12) and the AIG Women’s Open (July 30-August 2) all live on Sky Sports.
“I just love playing in the majors,” Hull added. “I pretty much only get up for the majors, it’s really weird. If it’s a normal week to week, I struggle sometimes getting the motivation.
Will Hull become the first Englishwoman to win a major since Georgia Hall
“When it comes to major week, I just love it. Even if I just make the cut, I feel like at the weekend I can make a massive charge.
“I love the feel of being under the gun, under pressure. It’s not like a life-and-death situation, but you know that adrenaline that you get. You can’t put anything wrong because you got to carry on and go, and when you do go wrong you got to bounce back.
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Speaking earlier in the season, the Sky Sports Golf podcast team discussed how important 2026 will be for Hull’s career
“I love that feeling. It’ll be a massive comedown tomorrow not because I came second but because the adrenaline goes out of my body. But I love the feeling.”
Hull now has 12 major top-10 finishes and five runner-up finishes without the elusive victory, although she believes she can take positives from her performance into the rest of the major season.
“It’s not over until the fat lady sings,” Hull said about those who doubted her after the first two rounds. “Charley makes a charge on the weekend, so there you go. Yeah, I just like chasing it down – I like stalking them [rivals] down.
“I’ve finished now top 10 in the last two major championships and I’ve had a win this year, so just gather my thoughts together. Just play the way I did the weekend on the first two days at the KPMG [Women’s PGA Championship] and take that mentality into the first two rounds as well.”
What’s next?
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 Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract.
