2024 U.S. Women’s Open: Power Rankings, Defending Champion, Prize Money, and Major Details

Nelly Korda stole the show at the first major of the season. But who will claim the crown for the second major championship of the 2024 calendar? Just a few more days to find out the answer to that question, as the U.S. Women’s Open will kick off soon at the Lancaster Country Club on May 30th. The much-anticipated tournament will find its champion on Sunday, June 2, among the many top golfers in the world.

These athletes will aim to take the winner’s cut from the total prize pool of a whopping $12 million, which is a million more than the previous edition. Even so, regardless of how much the event will award the champion alongside the title and the Harton S. Semple trophy, only one can emerge victorious at the prestigious tournament.

Top picks for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open

The second major of the season will see a total of 156 players compete for the win and honor. The field will be graced by various major champions, LPGA Tour winners, as well as the top-placed professionals in the world rankings. The community may naturally have some favorites among those who could have the best chance to lift the cup at the U.S. Women’s Open. And here’s some of them:

1. Allisen Corpuz: The 26-year-old will look to defend her title as the champion of the 2023 edition. She had clinched the win by beating the likes of Charley Hull by three strokes and figures of 9-under overall. In 2024, although she has not had the best of starts, the golfer has finished two times inside the top-15, with her best finish being a T8 at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. Regardless of the rest of the sub-par finishes, she will be looking to clinch her second major victory at the Lancaster Country Club this weekend.

2. Nelly Korda: Possibly the most talked-about woman golfer at the moment, the 25-year-old has proved again and again why she deserves the top spot on the Rolex Rankings. Out of the eight starts she made this year, the American pro has placed inside the top 10 in seven of them while emerging triumphant in six of those. Moreover, she made the special list of athletes, including the likes of Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam, to win five of these tournaments consecutively. Even though she has a poor record at the upcoming major, underestimating the 2024 Chevron Championship winner is the worst thing one can do.

3. Brooke Henderson: Just behind Korda in the number of top-10 finishes is the 26-year-old. The 13-time LPGA Tour champ has five top-10 placements out of the 10 starts she made in 2024. That’s not all. She is currently ranked 5th in the season-long Race to the CME Globe Standings while being placed 3rd for having the most rounds under par. The athlete would surely want to clinch her 21st professional win, the last of which she was able to do at the 2023 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. Many consider her a clear favorite to win the tournament.

4. Charley Hull: The English professional will surely be looking to clinch the glory that she missed out on last year at the 2023 edition of the U.S. Women’s Open when she finished T2 tied with Jiyai Shin at 6-under. Currently ranked at No. 8 on the standings, the 28-year-old would be hoping to keep up the momentum that helped her rake in five top-10 placements from 10 starts this year, the best of which came at the Aramco Team Series in Korea and Tampa, both of which she finished T2. She is definitely a golfer to keep one’s eyes on!

5. Hannah Green: The 27-year-old is the most successful athlete on the LPGA Tour after Korda. She was able to claim her victory at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, not to mention the HSBC Women’s World Championship as well, by scoring a 12-under 272 and a 13-under 275, respectively. Aside from these two wins, she also boasts another top-10 finish at the Mizuho Americas Open, where the American professional placed herself just behind the 2024 Chevron Championship winner at T2. The 5-time LPGA Tour champ will be hoping she gets her second major victory at the Lancaster Country Club.

The ultimate challenge at Lancaster

The 79th edition of the U.S. Women’s Open will take place at the original 18-hole course at Lancaster Country Club, designed by William Flynn. The grounds architect developed a layout that embraces the existing terrain to keep the golfer’s interest. Interestingly, the course was recently restored to include the Meadowcreek (the front nine) and the Dogwood (the back nine), along with other amenities such as the golf plaza, shop, and practice grounds.

Ranked as one of America’s best courses and among the ‘Top 100 Classic Design Courses’ by Golf Magazine, it played host to the 2015 edition of the U.S. Women’s Open as well. The tournament back then had a record-breaking attendance, thereby providing the entire community with a spectacular experience. The fans can surely, thus, expect another round of the same scintillating display of golf at the upcoming major this weekend!