Allisen Corpuz overcame Nasa Hataoka and held off a charging Charley Hull to win the first US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach by three shots.
Corpuz began the day a shot behind but made six birdies in a closing 69 to finish nine-under and win the first Major of her career.
The 25-year-old also scooped the $2 million winner’s cheque, which is a new record first prize in the women’s game.
"It's unreal, this week has felt like a dream come true," Corpuz said.
"Every few holes I just looked out and said I'm at Pebble Beach and there's not many places better than this so that helped me stay grounded and just play my game.
"I love it here, I hope I get the chance to come back."
Two birdies in her opening three saw Carpuz catch and pass overnight leader and playing partner Hataoka, who faded out of contention in the back nine.
Instead, it was Hull who emerged as Carpuz’s biggest threat. The Englishwoman showed her Major pedigree on one of the game’s grandest stages as she made a lightning start from seven behind to vault into contention.
She bounced back from missing a short birdie putt on the first with a stunning eagle on the second, which set the tone for the day.
Her putter was red hot as she raced to the turn in four-under 32, before birdies at 10 and 11 got her to six-under and within two of the lead.
A bogey at 13 was then cancelled out by a monster birdie putt on 16 as Hull closed out a superb 66 to set the clubhouse target.
“I got off to a fast start. I haven’t been nervous and today my game just clicked,” Hull said.
“I kept looking at the lead. I didn’t see she was at [minus] 10 but I thought I needed eagle so I went for it on 18 and thought I’d made the birdie putt but it just died left on me.”
Despite Hull's best efforts, it would not be enough to deny Corpuz, who was unflappable from start to finish.
She took the lead with a birdie at the third and never relinquished it. Birdies at 14 and 15 gave her a four-shot cushion and she was able to finish the job off with ease, sparking emotional scenes on the 18th green.
At the prize ceremony, Corpuz paid tribute to her coach and parents, saying: "My coach called me this morning and told me nobody was going to give it to me so that's what I tried to remember today.
"A big thank you to my mum and dad. They've been travelling with me and I'm so grateful and I'm so glad I could get this win for them."
Two-time Major winner Jiyai Shin finished in a tie for second alongside Hull, while a closing 76 saw Hataoka drop into a tie for fourth with Bailey Tardy on three-under.
Rose Zhang snuck into the top 10 in a tie for ninth with a one-over total.
US Women's Open Leaderboard
- -9 Corpuz
- -6 Hull, Shin
- -3 Hataoka, Tardy
Useful Links
- US Women's Open Purse, Payout And Prize Money 2023
- Where Is The 2024 US Women's Open?
- Pro Disqualified From US Women's Open After Five Holes
- Playing Pebble Beach 'Massive' For Women's Game - Georgia Hall
Hello and welcome
A mammoth Sunday of golf is underway, with action from the US Women's Open and the John Deere Classic. We'll keep you updated with news from both.
At Pebble Beach, Nasa Hataoka leads by one from Allisen Corpuz, with Charley Hull, Minjee Lee and Rose Zhang among the chasing pack. The final group tee off in an hour and 20 minutes.
Over on the PGA Tour, a couple of Europeans are at the top of the leaderboard. Austria's Sepp Straka leads on his own but Sweden's Ludvig Aberg is just a shot behind as he continues to make a strong case to be considered for a Ryder Cup spot.
Straka's stunning front nine
An opening 28 for @SeppStraka 👏He hold a one-shot lead headed to the back nine @JDClassic. pic.twitter.com/X3A6C9gwPBJuly 9, 2023
A front-nine 28 vaulted Straka to the top of the leaderboard at the John Deere Classic. Can he keep it up? Well, he's just picked up another birdie at the 11th to get to -8 for the day and -20 for the tournament.
Aberg closes with par
Aberg holes from 5ft for par at 18 and an eight-under 63. It has him leading in the clubhouse on -18 and once again strengthens his case for a surprise Ryder Cup debut in Rome.
Another birdie for Straka
Straka pours another birdie putt in at the 12th. He's -9 for the round and in with a serious chance of breaking 60 on this par-71 layout.
More importantly, he's now four clear at the top as he chases a second PGA Tour title.
Zhang, Lee get underway
Rose Zhang and defending champion Minjee Lee get their final rounds underway. Lee finds the fairway but Zhang blocks her tee shot into the right rough. At +1, they'll need low ones today to have a chance.
Straka
Straka to -23
This man can not miss.@SeppStraka needs to shoot 1-under in his final four holes for a round below 60 @JDClassic. pic.twitter.com/5mYhLtu84eJuly 9, 2023
This is getting silly now. Straka's played 14 holes and he's -11 for the round and -23 overall. He's five clear and arguably odds on to break 60.
Bogey for Zhang to start
Zhang's tee shot at the first finishes pretty much under a tree. She pitches out and can't save par, with the opening bogey dropping her to +2 and eight back. Alongside, Lee makes a comfortable par.
Ace alert
In Gee Chun has just aced the par-3 fifth in style. One of those that would have been a tap-in had it not dropped. Touch of class. The hole-in-one takes her two-under for the day and back to one-over for the tournament.
Will find a clip as soon as possible and share.
What a shot from Charley Hull
After missing a short birdie putt on the first, Charley Hull looks set to make amends on the second, striking a stunning second into about six feet on the par-5 second. An eagle would take her to -2 and within five of the lead.
Eagle for Hull
It was actually more like three feet for Hull but she dispatched it for eagle to get to -2. That's exactly the kind of start she needed if she wants to challenge for a first Major win.
Clips are proving hard to come by but we'll keep trying.
Straka update
The big Austrian chap has really stagnated with two pars following his four consecutive birdies...
He's on the par-5 17th and needs to play the final two in one-under or better to break 60.
USWO: Final group underway
Hataoka and Corpuz get their final rounds underway, both finding the fairway with assured tee shots. Can they maintain their advantage at the front and even surge further clear or will they come back to the pack? The next few hours will provide all the answers.
Straka pars 17, in position on 18
Straka misses from just inside 10ft on 17 to get him to the magic 12-under. However, he dusts himself off to find the fairway on 18. A birdie here will give him an iconic sub-60 round.
Straka's bid for 59 sunk
From the mayor's office, Straka over-draws his approach on the 18th into the water, putting an end to any hope of shooting 59. His four-shot lead, more importantly, is also in serious jeopardy. Big moments ahead.
John Deere: Closing double for Straka
Needing a birdie at the last for a 59, Sepp Straka finds the water at the 18th and finishes with a double bogey. He still cards an impressive 62 and will wait to see if it's enough...pic.twitter.com/8ZMSAgrACvJuly 9, 2023
After all that, Straka closes with a double for a round of 62 to post -21 in the clubhouse. His lead, which was five half an hour ago, is now down to two. Could be a very costly 59 bid. Time will tell.
USWO: Hull's charge stalls
The Englishwoman was four-under through four and within three of the lead but a bogey at the fifth has stalled her momentum. Still, it's a super start for the 27-year-old.
John Deere: Todd within one
Here comes Brendon Todd 👀He is just one shot off the lead with four to play @JDClassic. pic.twitter.com/I6vjj7oSQ0July 9, 2023
Straka's lead is now down to one after Todd's birdie at 14. Hope the Austrian is staying loose and keeping his lunch light.
USWO: Two-shot swing at the top
With two birdies in her first three, Allisen Corpuz has snatched the outright lead from her playing partner. The latest gain comes at the third and takes her to -8, two clear of Hataoka who misses her par putt.
USWO: Hull back to -4
Hull is making the most of her length to take apart the par-5s. A wood for her second into the sixth sets up a simple up-and-down for a birdie that takes her back to -4. She's within for of Corpuz and is in close at the par-3 seventh.
Watch: In Gee Chun's ace
"OHHH, WOW!" 🤩In-Gee Chun hits an 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 hole-in-one in the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach ⛳👏 pic.twitter.com/xWLeBSyloMJuly 9, 2023
Here is In Gee Chun's hole-in-one from earlier.
USWO: Bogey for Corpuz
Corpuz can't save par from 5ft at the fourth and drops to -7, now just one clear of Hataoka. The action at the US Women's Open is simmering so far but needs something to really spark it into life.
John Deere: Costly bogey for Todd
Todd finds the par-3 16th green but launches his first putt 7ft past the hole and can't make the return effort for par. The bogey drops him to -19 and two behind Straka. He'll need to finish birdie-birdie to force a playoff.
USWO: Shin to -4
It's been a quiet day so far for Jiyai Shin but two birdies in her last three take her to -4 and well in contention. She's just three behind solo leader Corpuz.
Elsewhere, Hull hits a great shot from a tricky spot into the par-4 ninth. She'll have a good look for birdie.
John Deere: Sepp Straka is the champion
The winning moment 🙌@seppstraka | @JDCLASSIC pic.twitter.com/QE4htu1ZRpJuly 9, 2023
Sepp Straka wins the John Deere Classic by two from Brendan Todd and Alex Smalley. The Austrian started the day four back but went on a birdie blitz to capture his second PGA Tour title.
USWO: Hull within two
After some wifi struggles, let's recap what's been happening at the US Women's Open. The big news is that Charley Hull is back on a tear, holing lengthy putts on 10 and 11 for birdie to get to -6 and within two of Allisen Corpuz.
Nasa Hataoka remains in second at -7, with Hyo Joo Kim hanging and Jiyai Shin in there at -4.
Elsewhere, Rose Zhang is having a better day at two-under for the day and -1 for the tournament.
Hull bogeys 13
Hull does well to recover from a poor tee shot by lacing an iron from a horrible angle through the back of the green onto the fringe. However, she's left with a tricky third with everything running away from her and can't save par. The bogey drops her to -5.
In the final group, Corpuz cancels out a dropped shot on the ninth with a birdie on 10 to restore her one-shot advantage at the top to Hataoka.
What a save
After drawing a nasty lie in a greenside trap on 12, Corpuz does brilliantly to get up-and-down and salvage par. It's made all the more important when Hataoka misses from closer for birdie. A let-off!
Slow play drama
The final group were earlier warned they were at risk of a slow play penalty. Of all the times to get precious about pace of play.
Anyway, there are no longer on the clock!
Hull holes a monster putt
A poor second into 16 leaves Hull with some 30ft for birdie but the Englishwoman rattles it into the back of the cup to get to -16 and within two of Corpuz. What a putt!
Corpuz extends lead
The American is unfazed by what's going on ahead and keeps her foot on the gas with a birdie at the 14th to get to -9 and extend her lead to three. Alongside, a bogey drops Hataoka to -5, leaving Hull on her own in second.
Hull is on the tricky par-3 17th and hits a superb tee shot straight at the flag, with the ball eventually coming to rest about 25ft away.
Lee ends defence with birdie
Minjee lee brings the curtain down on her US Open defence with a nice birdie at the par-5 18th. It wasn't the day she wanted as she carded a three-over 75 for a four-over total.
Hull close to tree on 18th fairway
The tree in the middle of the 18th fairway could be about to claim another victim. Hull's tee shot looks a little blocked and it comes to rest a few feet short of the tree. It remains to be seen what kind of shot he's got from there.
Corpuz now four clear!
This is relentless from the leader. Another birdie at the 15th takes her four clear at the top all of a sudden.
Box office Charley
From near enough the roots of the tree, Charley Hull goes for the green in two with a fairway wood. It looks like she rips it as she recoils instantly and drops to her knees to track the ball flight, but it just over-draws and winds up in the long bunker that guards the left-hand side.
Par to finish for Hull
A good bunker shot leaves Hull facing about 10ft for birdie but her putt agonisingly swings across the hole and misses left. She taps in for a round of 66 and to set the clubhouse target at -6.
It's likely to be a couple shy given the form of Corpuz but what an effort from the Englishwoman.
Shin birdies 18 to join Hull
You can see what it means to Jiyai Shin as she rolls in a 15-footer for birdie on 18 to get to -6 and into a tie for second with Hull. Up goes the fist and out comes the smile of the Korean two-time Major winner who hasn't recorded a top five in a Major since the 2013 Women's PGA Championship.
Bogey for Corpuz on 17
The leader can't get up and down from over the 17th green and cards her third bogey of the day. It drops her back to -9 but still leaves her three clear with just the 18th to play.
Corpuz is the champion
A brilliant tee shot on 18 typifies what has been an excellent display all day from Corpuz. She finds the fairway with a bullet cut before laying up with ease on the par-5.
Her approach to 10ft put the result beyond doubt and she sealed it with an easy two-putt to win by three.
Thanks for joining us
As always, thanks for following along with us. We'll be back next week but until then it's goodbye!
