Frustration and pride the mixed emotions as Kettering’s Charley Hull misses out on US Open glory

Hull was in the hunt for the US Women’s Open title throughout Sunday's final round of the tournament at the Riviera Country Club in California, but in the end came up just short as she finished second, one shot behind winner Nelly Korda.

The win was a second in successive majors for the American, while Hull was left to reflect on yet another runners-up finish - the fifth in her career to date, and the second time it has happened in the US Open after also finishing second in 2023.

Hull was off the pace at halfway, but produced two brilliant closing rounds to throw herself into title contention.

The Kettering ace hit a third round 65 on Saturday and then followed it up with a four-under 67 on Sunday - mixing an eagle and five birdies with three costly bogeys - to equal the lowest 36-hole total in US Women's Open history.

But it still wasn't enough as Hull finished tied for second with Mexico's Gaby Lopez while Korda secured her fourth Major title win.

"It is just frustrating," admitted Hull. "Another second place, and I think that's five second place finishes I have had in Majors now, so it is pretty annoying, but I played really well out there.

"I obviously missed a couple of putts on the back nine, but it was quite windy, it was quite hard to putt out there, and I hit the ball fantastic.

"Fair play to Nelly for back-to-back wins, but I just love playing in the majors.

"I pretty much only get up for the majors, it is really weird, but I just love playing in them.

"If it's a normal week I struggle sometimes to get the motivation, but when it comes to majors week I just love it.

"I feel if I can just make the cut then I feel at the weekend then I can make a massive charge."

Asked about why she loves competing in major tournaments, Hull added: "I love the feeling of being under the gun and under pressure.

"The adrenalin you get knowing you can't put a foot wrong because you have got to just carry on going. I love that feeling."

Then asked about how she went about the challenge of trying to chase down Korda on the final day, she admitted: "It was to just go for it, go for everything, and I did that.

"I love playing golf like that, because in the first two days I feel like I am in a bit of a cage, you can't go for everything because it is early on.

"But then later you have nothing to lose, I can go at everything and play my free golf like I do at home, and I like that. It is more fun."

Hull will get another chance for major success when she competes in the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Minnesota later this month (June 25-28).

And she believes she will go into that tournament in good shape.

"I have finished top 10 in the last two Major championships, and I have also had a win this year," said Hull.

"So I will now just gather my thoughts together and just try to play the way I do at the weekend in the first two days.

"At the KPPMG I will try and take that mentality into the first two rounds as well.

"I wasn't actually hitting the ball that well coming into this one, so I was a little nervous, but I played well the first couple of days without really holing any putts."