The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open is reaching its nail-biting conclusion today at Erin Hills Golf Course, Wisconsin, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With $12 million on the table, matching the tournament’s all-time record purse, the world’s top players are battling it out on one of golf’s most demanding courses. And if you’re like the rest of us yelling at their TV screens this afternoon, buckle up, because the final round is set to be a whirlwind.
Let’s dig into the leaderboard, where the cream of the crop has risen ahead of today’s ride-or-die final round.
Current Leaderboard After Round 3
| Position | Player | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maja Stark | SWE | -7 |
| 2 | Julia López Ramírez | ESP | -6 |
| T3 | Mao Saigo | JPN | -5 |
| T3 | Hinako Shibuno | JPN | -5 |
| T3 | Rio Takeda | JPN | -5 |
| 6 | Nelly Korda | USA | -4 |
| T7 | Linn Grant | SWE | -3 |
With tee times starting at 1:10 PM EDT, the final group of Stark and López Ramírez will take center stage, and it’s shaping up to be a showdown. Brace yourselves for fist pumps, missed putts, and at least one awkward bunker blooper.
Top Contenders to Watch
Here’s a closer look at the players aiming to grab that trophy (and by extension, the glory, the life-changing payday).
🇸🇪 Maja Stark (Leader, -7)
No pressure, Maja—but you’re this close to your first major title. The 24-year-old from Sweden has been as solid as an over-watered fairway this week, posting rounds of 70, 69, and 70. Yesterday, she kept her cool despite gale-force winds and greens slicker than an ice-skating rink. If she can maintain her composure under the heat of the final round, she might just go wire-to-wire.
🇪🇸 Julia López Ramírez (2nd, -6)
At just 22 years old, Julia is the wild card of the pack, and she’s playing like someone who didn’t get the memo about feeling pressure. She was lights out yesterday, carding 68 after a wobbly 74 in Round 2. Does she have what it takes to pull off the unthinkable and stage a comeback? Don’t count her out. Fun fact? She’s got the “rising star swagger” to bring a spicy finale.
🇺🇸 Nelly Korda (6th, -4)
Look, everybody loves rooting for the best in the business, right? Nelly Korda, world No. 1, might not be leading, but she’s juuust within striking distance. Her performance has been up and down, but if Erin Hills eats up the less experienced players, she could swoop in like a seagull stealing fries at the beach. A U.S. Women’s Open title is the one glaring omission in her impressive career. Could today be the day?
🇯🇵 The Japanese Trio (T3, -5)
Talk about a powerhouse group. Japan’s finest have stormed the leaderboard, and all three are serious threats:
- Mao Saigo: Already snagged the Chevron Championship this year, proving that pressure doesn’t faze her.
- Hinako Shibuno: The “Smiling Cinderella” famously won the 2019 Women’s British Open and is back for more.
- Rio Takeda: Flying slightly under the radar, but steady-as-she-goes rounds have kept her in the mix.
Together, they’re putting the golf world on notice, with every shot coming off their clubs looking crisper than fried chicken.
Final Round Outlook
If the leaderboard tells us anything, we’re in for a tight race. Just four strokes separate first place from sixth, and we’ve got all the ingredients for a final round as chaotic as my short game. Here’s what to watch for:
- Course Conditions: Erin Hills is no walk in the park. Its undulating fairways, fescue rough, and sneaky-fast greens mean precision is king. Miss a shot? You’ll be begging for mercy (or a mulligan).
- Mental Strength: Handle the pressure or crumble like a badly constructed sandcastle. This goes double for those chasing their first big win.
- Big Stage Players: Experienced names like Korda and Shibuno have been here before, and that could make all the difference. Sometimes, experience is the secret sauce.
Whether it’s a dramatic playoff, a surprise Cinderella story, or a battle to the last putt, today’s final round has all the makings of a classic. Keep an eye on Stark and López Ramírez battling it out in the last group, and don’t be surprised if one of the Japanese players sneaks up the leaderboard either.
Grab your popcorn (and maybe a stiff drink for those nerve-wracking putts)—it’s going to be one heck of a finish!
The article is ready and packed with all the excitement of the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to tweak or add.
