Pajaree Anannarukarn Finishes Tied for Eighth, Earns Over THB 10 Million

PACIFIC PALISADES, California, USA (June 8, 2026) – World No. 1 Nelly Korda captured her first U.S. Women’s Open title after sinking a crucial birdie putt on the 17th hole and closing with a final-round 2-under-par 69 to win the championship at Riviera Country Club on Sunday, June 7. The American star finished at 8-under-par 276, edging England’s Charley Hull and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez by one stroke.

The victory marks Korda’s second consecutive major championship of the season and the fourth major title of her career. It is also her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the 2026 season, the most by any player on tour this year. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn recorded the best finish among the Thai contingent, tying for eighth place and earning more than THB 10 million in prize money.

The 81st U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally, organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA), was the second major championship of the year and featured a total purse of US$12.5 million (approximately THB 409.4 million). The tournament was played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, from June 4–7, 2026. Following three rounds, Korda and South Korea’s Kim Sei-young shared the lead.

Starting the final round tied for first, Korda got off to an excellent start with birdies on holes 1 and 6. Although she dropped a shot with a bogey on the seventh, she remained composed, making pars through the 16th hole. A five-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th gave her the outright lead, and she sealed the victory with a two-putt par on the 18th. Her final-round 69 gave her a four-round total of 276.

The title is Korda’s first U.S. Women’s Open victory and her second consecutive major championship following her triumph at the Chevron Championship in April. It also represents her fourth LPGA Tour title of the 2026 season and the 19th victory of her professional career. Her four major titles include the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2021 and the Chevron Championship in 2024 and 2026.

The 27-year-old world No. 1 said after her victory: “I feel like I’m living a dream. I can’t even describe how much this means to me. Having everyone here cheering and supporting me is truly incredible.”

Korda earned US$2.5 million (approximately THB 82.1 million) for the victory, increasing her season earnings to more than US$5,386,790 (approximately THB 177.1 million) from just eight starts. She also strengthened her position atop the LPGA money list, the Race to the CME Globe standings, the Rolex Player of the Year rankings, and the Annika Major Award, which honors the player with the best performance across the five major championships.

Korda now has the opportunity to complete a career Grand Slam if she can win either the Amundi Evian Championship or the AIG Women’s Open. Winning all four traditional major championships would complete the career Grand Slam, while capturing all five current LPGA majors would earn the distinction of a career Super Grand Slam.

England’s Charley Hull produced a brilliant final round featuring one eagle, five birdies, and three bogeys for a 4-under-par 67, finishing at 7-under-par 277. She shared second place with Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, who carded four birdies and one bogey for a 3-under-par 68. Both players earned US$1,089,774 (approximately THB 35.7 million).

South Korea’s Chun In-gee, the 2015 champion, shot 1-under-par 70 to finish fourth at 6-under-par 278, earning US$581,535 (approximately THB 19 million). Co-leader after the third round, Kim Sei-young posted a 1-over-par 72 to finish fifth at 5-under-par 279, collecting US$484,363 (approximately THB 15.8 million).

World No. 1 women’s amateur Kiara Romero of the United States claimed Low Amateur honors after shooting 3-under-par 68 for a tournament total of 3-under-par 281, tying for sixth alongside Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who closed with a 1-over-par 72.

Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, started strongly with birdies on each of her first two holes. After a bogey on the sixth, she bounced back with three consecutive birdies on holes 7 through 9 before playing the back nine in even par. Her final-round 4-under-par 67 gave her a four-round total of 2-under-par 282, good for a tie for eighth place.

The finish marked the best performance by a Thai player in this year’s championship and secured Pajaree an exemption into next year’s U.S. Women’s Open. She earned US$319,831 (approximately THB 10.4 million) and recorded her best result in the tournament, improving on her previous best finish of tied 20th in 2022. It was also her third career top-10 finish in a major championship, following tied-sixth-place finishes at the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open in 2024.

Among the other Thai players, Patty Tavatanakit, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, recorded three birdies and three bogeys for an even-par 71. She finished tied for 22nd at 2-over-par 286, earning US$133,545 (approximately THB 4.3 million).

World No. 2 Atthaya Thitikul, a nine-time LPGA Tour winner and already a two-time winner in 2026, carded four birdies and six bogeys for a 2-over-par 73. She finished tied for 28th at 3-over-par 287, earning US$94,989 (approximately THB 3.1 million).

Former world No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, a 12-time LPGA Tour winner and the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open champion, recorded one birdie, three bogeys, and one double bogey in a final-round 4-over-par 75. She finished tied for 60th at 10-over-par 294, earning US$25,696 (approximately THB 843,342).

The next LPGA Tour event is the Dow Championship in Midland, Michigan, from June 11–14. The remaining three major championships of the season are the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Minnesota (June 25–28), the Amundi Evian Championship in France (July 9–12), and the AIG Women’s Open in England (July 30–August 2).

For more information, visit www.usga.org.

Photo Credit: USGA.