NELLIE Korda produced a Hollywood ending in winning the US Women’s Open, doing it where movies are made.
Bianca Pagdanganan could only wish she could. The country’s bet tried. But after four rounds at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, she settled for a tie for 49th place.
Bianca shot a final round 1-over-par 72 and slightly improved her position from the day before where she was tied for 53rd. She finished 7 over for the tournament, 15 shots behind Korda.
The American world No. 1 shot a 2-under-par 69, 8 under for the tournament, and won by one stroke over England’s Charlie Hull (67) and Mexican Gaby Lopez (68) who tied at minus 7. Korean In Gee Chun was fourth, a stroke further at minus 6 after a 70.
Bianca took home $35,500 (P2.1 million). That pales in comparison with Korda’s $2.5 million winner’s prize. But for the Filipino, that was a much-needed boost to her bank account which had not been as robust as she would hope. She missed the cut in two of her last three LPGA starts.
Her finish was also an indication that she needed to put in more work if she hoped to compete with the world’s best.
Her final-round 72 showed minimal damage – three bogeys, two birdies – but her middle rounds of 74-75 derailed her best intentions.
She started with a promise, a one-under 70. That score was better than Korda’s 73, who was tied for 53rd after the first round. But unlike Korda, who showed why she’s number one, Bianca was maybe overwhelmed by the occasion, if not by the course, which also shook some of the top players’ confidence.
Not Korda, though. After trailing through most of the tournament, she finally seized the lead on Sunday with a 9-foot birdie putt on the par 5 17th hole. She then holed a 3-foot knee-knocker on the18th for par to clinch the championship.
Korda, 27, has now claimed the first two majors of 2026, and the first to claim consecutive majors since former world No. 1 Lydia Ko at the 2015 Evian Championship and 2016 Chevron Championship.
She now has four majors and would complete the LPGA Tour’s “Super Slam” should she win the AIG Women’s Open and Evian Championship. Korda’s record also include a gold medal at the Olympics in Japan (2021).
LIV Golf: Tabuena ties for 42nd, pockets P8 million
Miguel Tabuena continued to fatten his wallet. He pocketed $129,00, about P8 million in local currency, despite scoring 4-over-par 75 in the final round of LIV Golf Andalucia.
Tabuena’s second best finish as a wild card after nine LIV tournaments put him in a tie for 42nd place, but still good enough to merit a cash bonanza – by standards of Filipino golf pros,
It’s a much better spot than his past record, which was mostly in the 50s, still, good enough for $50,000 which, so far, he’s been able to bank six times.
Tabuena’s 9-over total was 20 strokes behind winner Tyrrell Hatton, a nice gift for the Briton who became a father recently.
Hatton shot a final round 1-under 70 to beat Spanish ace Jon Rahm by two shots at the iconic Real Club Valderrama in Spain. Rahm shot a 67, while a stroke behind was Abraham Ancer at solo third at minus 8.
It is Hatton's second win on LIV Golf, and his first on any tour in nearly 18 months. He missed last week’s LIV Golf Korea to be with his wife Emily and new child.
PGA TOUR: Poston wins the Memorial in playoff
J.T. Poston won the Memorial Tournament after beating Ryan Gerard in the second hole of a playoff at Muirfield Village in Ohio.
Poston had to birdie the 18th hole of regulation to force the playoff and avoided a big letdown after leading the tournament by four shots going into the final round.
The birdie was actually his third in five holes as he chased Gerard who took a one-shot lead after a long birdie on the 17th.
A par on the second playoff hole netted Poston the victory after Gerard missed a 6-footer for par. Gerard finished regulation at 4-under-par 68 and Poston a 72.
The win carried strong significance. Poston earned a spot in the next three majors. He moved to No. 39 in the world ranking, making him eligible to play in the US Open. He also captured the one spot for The Open available at the Memorial, and he gets in the Masters next year.
With the win, Poston also avoided a 36-hole qualifying for the US Open.
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