Nelly Korda found herself at Lancaster Country Club’s par-4 18th, needing a birdie to make the cut. With wins in six of her last seven starts, no one expected her to be in this position. A disastrous septuple-bogey 10 on the third hole during her opening-round 80 had brought her here. Despite a promising second-round performance with birdies at holes 7, 8, and 9, Korda’s final tee shot went left, ending her chances. Her U.S. Women’s Open was over.
When Korda tapped in for bogey, it marked the end of her nearly year-long made-cut streak. Women’s golf’s biggest weekend would miss its biggest star. Korda wasn’t alone in missing the cut; she was among several big names who didn’t make it to the weekend.
The cut reduced the field from 156 to just the top 60 and ties at eight-over par. Big names like Rose Zhang, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko, and Allisen Corpuz were also on the wrong side of the cut line. Zhang, ranked No. 6 in the world and a recent winner, finished with scores of 79-72. Henderson, who rarely misses a cut, ended up with rounds of 80-72. Thompson’s absence was jarring as she had announced her upcoming retirement from competitive golf, but her recent form made it less surprising. Ko, who started 2024 strong, missed her second consecutive cut with rounds of 80-73. As the defending champion, Corpuz’s failure to make the cut was particularly notable.
If the cut had been a shot or two lower, more top players might have missed out. Charley Hull, Celine Boutier, and Hannah Green just made it, finishing at seven-over par. Other top pros like Jin Young Ko, Gabi Ruffels, Hyo Joo Kim, Megan Khang, Alison Lee, and Madelene Sagstrom also hovered near the cut line but made it through, giving them a chance to contend over the weekend.
Despite the star-studded list of players who missed the cut, the weekend still holds potential for an exciting finish with many top players still in contention. Nelly Korda’s unexpected exit serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of golf.
