Bright Lights of the U.S. Women’s Open Set to Shine on Nelly Korda

The U.S. Women’s Open, which kicks off on Thursday at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is the second women’s major on the calendar, but that’s the only sense in which it’s second place. The longest-running major championship in the women’s game has long provided a compelling test of golf and recently elevated its stature with purse increases, strong venue selection, and an investment in ShotLink technology. It also represents one of a handful of times per year when women’s golf squeezes its way into network coverage. But with all due respect to the 78 editions of the tournament that have come before, this week’s 79th may be the most important.

I’m sure you know why. This season, Nelly Korda has put together one of the most dominant runs in the history of the sport. There’s a problem, though. The rest of the sports world and the general public may be only dimly aware of what’s happening.

It takes some serious scrolling on ESPN’s golf homepage before you see Korda’s name. Go to Nike’s website, and you’ll see Brooks Koepka all over their golf pages but not a single image of Nelly. Even women-focused outlets like espnW and Just Women’s Sports have posted barely anything about her on social media.

During Korda’s victory at the Mizuho Americas Open just over a week ago, the New York City skyline got plenty of camera time. Presumably, a visit to NBC’s “Today” show set in Manhattan the following day would have fit in her schedule. After all, NBC had just broadcast her win and will televise her gold-medal defense at the Olympics later this summer. “Today” has been trotting out athletes and coaches for months to promote the network’s Olympics coverage. Somehow, though, the dots didn’t connect to get Korda on the couch with Savannah and Hoda.

All of this adds to the importance of this week. For everything Nelly has accomplished so far, she hasn’t garnered the attention and renown she deserves. This week’s major could change that. The 2024 U.S. Women’s Open will be the real deal, played at a course that set attendance records the last time it hosted this event. This is exactly the kind of stage women’s golf so desperately needs. So perhaps this will be the week that Nelly Korda not only confirms her own stardom but also lifts the women’s game to new heights.

This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.