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How Swede it is: Stark wins US Women's Open
Darren Walton, AAP • June 2nd, 2025 12:20 pm
Maja Stark of Sweden has taken out the 80th US Women's Open at Erin Hills. (AP PHOTO)
Swede Maja Stark is savouring an unimaginable maiden major championship after the Australian final-round charge failed to materialise at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin.
Barely challenged down the stretch, Stark closed with a even-par 72 at Erin Hills golf club to cruise to a two-shot victory over world No.1 Nelly Korda and Japan's Rio Takeda.
The 25-year-old finished with a seven-under 281 total to pocket a cheque for $US2.4 million ($A3.7 million), the richest prize in women's golf.
Stark is the sixth Swede to win a women's major, and the first since Anna Nordqvist at the 2021 British Open.
The former Oklahoma State player is the also first Swede to win a US Women's Open since the great three-time victor Annika Sorenstam in 2006 and only the third ever along with Liselotte Neumann in 1988.
"It feels so surreal, and it felt like it was so far away just a couple of weeks ago," Stark said.
"Just last week, my confidence was so low, and then I had a special friend tell me that you need to be confident. You need to trust yourself, and that's what I try to do. I try to make myself and everyone on my team proud."
Korda posted a final-round 71 to share second with Takeda (72) at five under.
Despite her disappointment, Korda's joint runner-up showing is still as close as the 26-year-old has come to winning a US Women's Open. Her best previous finish was a tie for eighth behind Lee in 2022 at Pine Needles.
South Korean Hye-Jin Choi (68), China's Ruoning Yin (70) and Japanese Mao Saigo (73) tied for fourth at four under.
Hannah Green wound up as the leading Australian, in a tie for 13th at one under following a final-round 72.
The world No.8 climbed to three under and into the top 10 before dropping two shots in her last three holes on Sunday (Monday AEST).
Despite never seriously threatening, Green was encouraged by her best-ever US Open result and hopes to carry the form into next month's PGA Championship, the third women's major of 2025.
"I felt like I hit the ball really well," Green said.
"Hit a couple of loose shots coming into the back nine. The bogeys on 16 and 17 hurt, but overall a solid week. It's nice to build on this form.
"KPMG coming up soon as well so hopefully I can take that into those events.
"I haven't really played a whole lot this year and played many events in a row so I'm trying to use this momentum."
Minjee Lee finished joint 22nd after starting the day in equal sixth and just four shots behind the frontrunning Stark.
Three straight bogeys on the front nine cruelled Lee's chances of adding a second US Open title to her collection after winning three years ago.
The dual major champion ultimately signed for a round of 77 to slump to two over for the tournament.
