The US Women’s Open is just around the corner, and being the second major of the season, the excitement is palpable. In fact, the tournament is the longest-running major in women’s golf and will be returning for its 80th edition from May 29 to June 1, 2025, at the Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin. This will be the first time the championship will be played at this challenging venue, and everyone is excitedly counting down the days to the start of Round 1, where all the big names in women’s golf will battle it out.
And yes, speaking of competition, there is a cut, which will be put into place after the first two rounds of golfing action. This cut has been implemented since 1947, when the tournament switched from match play to stroke play. Only the top performers from the 156-player field will make it to the final rounds of competition. Once all players are done playing 36 holes, the field will be reduced to the 60 golfers with the highest scores (and ties), who will make it to Rounds 3 and 4, to be played on the weekend.
Adding to the excitement is the course itself. Erin Hills is a picturesque par-72 course stretching across 7,800 yards of countryside, although this will be reduced for this event to 6,829 yards. It is renowned for its rolling hills and fescue-lined fairways, with barely any trees around. It has an Irish theme to it, with stone buildings and other architecture that looks straight out of Ireland, and even a few blind spots to keep things interesting. The course isn’t just about big drives—it’s a thinking player’s course. With its length and tricky layout, every shot needs to be planned out carefully, especially on a windy day.
Erin Hills isn’t new to the majors. Golf fans might remember the course from the 2017 US Open, when Brooks Koepka tore it up with a 16-under finish, leading some to think the course was not challenging enough. But in reality, it was the absence of the usual Wisconsin winds that week, resulting in the course playing a bit easier than expected.
With a $12 million purse on the line and $2.4m in prize money for the winner, every shot will matter. So, who are the top names that are expected for the 80th edition of this event?
All eyes are on Yuka Saso as she aims for a third US Women’s Open Win
Well, let’s rewind to last year for a bit. In the 2024 edition, Japanese pro Yuka Saso’s win at the Lancaster Country Club was nothing short of magical. Not only did she play top-notch golf, but she also etched her name in US Women’s Open history by becoming the first player to win representing two different countries, having previously won in 2021 for the Philippines. And let’s not forget fellow Japanese star Hinako Shibuno, who gave it everything she had. The good news? Both are back this year, together with eight past champions, and we can’t wait to see if they deliver yet another unforgettable showdown.
Looking ahead to this year’s field, Erin Hills will see all the top names in women’s golf, including World No. 1 Nelly Korda, fan favorite Charley Hull, as well as Jeeno Thitikul and a resurgent Lydia Ko—each of them more than capable of lifting the Harton S. Semple Trophy. With this much star power in one place, expect plenty of drama and a leaderboard that could shift at any moment.
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