Irene, Wisconsin – Maja Stark lost confidence in entering the U.S. Women’s Open.
She decided not to worry anymore that it gave her the biggest championship in women’s golf.
The 25-year-old Swedish shot 72 on Sunday, maintaining a lead all day. Her 281 shots at Erin Hills totaled four days, giving her the lead at the highest ranking Nelly Korda and Japan’s Rio Takeda.
“I think I just stopped trying to control everything and I just let it happen the way it happened,” Stark said. “On the days of practice, I realized that if I just hovered a little over the ground before hitting, I would release some tension in my body. I think just do my process, know, know, give myself little things like this, that’s the key to this week because I really don’t want to rely on my confidence to rely on my confidence.”
Stark became the sixth Swedish to win the Women’s Major and the first since the 2021 Women’s Open. Stark also won her second professional LPGA Tour title.
The former Oklahoma State player is the first Swedish to win the U.S. Women’s Open since Annika Sorenstam won her third championship in 2006.
“They sent me a text yesterday and just said, ‘Take home’,” Stark said.
Stark rejects Korda and many other challengers when it comes to stability.
Korda ended with a score of 71, with Takeda leading 72. Hye-jin Choi (68), Ruon Yin (70) and Mao Saigo (73) tied for fourth place. Hailee Cooper (70) and hinako shibuno (74) are under 3 years old.
Stark’s match partner Julia Lopez Ramirez fell out of the dispute on her way to the 79-year-old, putting her ahead of No. 19. Lopez Ramirez entered the day with only one lead, and he scored three bogeys at the age of 18.
It’s as close as Korda won the US Women’s Open.
Corda discussed her “complex relationship” with the U.S. Women’s Open this week as her previous best score was eighth place at the Pine Needles in 2022. She missed the layoffs in this match after scoring 80 points in the first round last year.
“I attended this event when I was 14, so maybe a little excited about it,” Corda said. “I mean, it was definitely a few times that I broke my heart. … Last year’s performance would definitely bring me a dagger, but it’s just golf. In most cases, your losses will be more than winning the majority.
“I feel like I’ve actually learned a lot about myself, my game and where women in America need to improve the openness of Americans because it does test every part of your game.”
Korda birded 7 and 8 but missed a 9-foot birdie putt that would have been ahead of her. Stark’s Wuji winning streak ended with 21 in 7th place, and Korda tried 9th in the 9th match.
Stark then expanded the lead to three by making a 14-foot birdie putt on 11th immediately before Korda missed the par at less than 5 feet.
Korda, Shibuno and Takeda scored two in two 14 shots, although Korda missed the 14-foot Eagle Putt while Shibuno missed the 9.5-foot Eagle attempt.
Stark then won his own three-point advantage in the 14th Birdie. Despite bogeys in the last two holes, she still sticks to this lead.
“I didn’t look at the rankings until I was 17,” Stark said. “I caught a glimpse of it. It’s good. I’m not as nervous as I thought, because it feels like I have some control over the game and I know what’s going on.”
Stark attributes former standing comedian Caddy Jeff Brighton to help her relax by telling the joke and making sure she isn’t at risk.
“We’re just trying to talk about something and not too much like my own putts,” she said.
Brighton said: “I want to say Mama is a very intense player. She works very hard and is very competitive, so when [a player’s] Fierce, you’re trying to get their heads off the golf ball between the cameras. ”
He wears a cheese head hat, similar to the one seen in the Green Bay Packers game
Stark kept his balance enough to earn a $2.4 million bonus in the most lucrative event of the year. Now, she just needs to figure out how to get through the bonus.
“Maybe moving out of my studio apartment might be one thing,” Stark quipped.
