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Maja Stark led the entire final round at the U.S. Women’s Open, but there was a long wait at the 18th green at Erin Hills. It was the last big test of nerves before she could claim the trophy.
Her playing partner, Julia Lopez Ramirez, hit a ball the scoring tent behind the green, which began an unwanted adventure. The delay was lengthy but Stark’s caddie, Jeff Brighton, had a previous side gig that proved instrumental for such a wait on the 72nd hole of a major.
“My caddie used to be a stand-up comedian, so he had some good jokes,” Stark said. “We just kind of tried to talk about some stuff and not be too into my own putt.”
Neither can remember what the jokes were about—or at least are willing to admit it—but they’ll remember this week forever. Stark’s three-shot lead at the 18th tee proved to be a perfect cushion. She ultimately made bogey to shoot an even-par 72.
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It's a celebration at @ErinHillsGolf for Maja Stark!@Ally pic.twitter.com/UPz3E0pqzR
— U.S. Women's Open (@uswomensopen) June 1, 2025
The 25-year-old won by two shots over World No. 1 Nelly Korda and rookie Rio Takeda. She raised the trophy and stared at all the names on it.
Stark won at seven-under-par total after an impressive 70-69-70-72 to win the $2.4 million prize from the $12 million purse. Fellow Swedes Linn Grant and rookie Ingrid Lindblad doused Stark with champagne on the green and the celebration began.
Stark is the third Swede to win the U.S. Women’s Open, joining Liselotte Neumann (1988) and Annika Sorenstam (1995, 1996, 2006).
“It’s so cool they texted me [Saturday] and just said bring it home, so that was already cool just to get those texts,” Stark said. “Just looking at all the names on this trophy. I love the U.S. Open. I’m so happy it’s mine now.”
Stark and Grant used to talk about days like this when they went to the same sports academy in Sweden. PGA Tour star Ludvig Aberg went there, too.
Maja Stark celebrates with Linn Grant on the 18th green after winning the U.S. Women’s Open. Stacy Revere
“I’m so happy for her. I thought I was going to cry myself,” Grant said. “I was so nervous when she was about to finish, knowing what this course does. Do you even know what this means?”
Stark had the fist pumps working early and often with three birdies, the first of which came at No. 6. Then came the test when she bogeyed the final two holes, even though she had built a large enough cushion. Still, that’s where the caddie/comedian helped.
“It was shite. I just waffle. You try and get her head away from it,” said Brighton, who was wearing a cheesehead he got from USGA CEO Mike Whan. “I would say Maja is quite an intense player. She tries really hard and is really competitive. When you’re tense, between shots you try to get her head away from golf. It’s a long time out there. It went great. I’ve only been with her a few weeks, but we make a good team. We get on well. She was brilliant.”
For the first time in her career, Stark had a 54-hole lead in a major and she added to that one shot lead, increasing it to three shots and never even fell into a tie. Korda started the day three shots back and pulled within one early. Korda, searching for her first U.S. Women’s Open win and first title this season, shot a final-round one-under 71 but had no birdies on the back nine and two bogeys. Still, she tied for second—her best U.S. Women’s Open finish—two shots back.
Lopez Ramirez was in the final pairing and struggled to a seven-over 79. Mao Saigo, who won the Chevron Championship, shot a final-round 73.
Stark had a swagger the entire round and was smiling with Brighton. Majors often chew golfers up on the back nine on Sunday, but not Stark. She was steady. She admitted that she thought someone would overtake her lead at some point during the round, but it never happened.
Patrick McDermott
“I didn’t want to get ahead of myself,” Stark said. “I thought there’s still a lot of golf left to be played. I just felt like people are going to pass me probably, and I just had to stay calm through that.
“I didn’t look at the leaderboards until I was on 17. I caught a glimpse of it. It was nice. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be because it felt like I have somewhat control of my game and I kind of know what’s going on. Then obviously with the pressure and everything, your mistakes get bigger, but it felt like I could just like control anything that was thrown at me, really.”
When asked what she’d do with the money she won, she admitted she didn’t know it was that much.
“Maybe move out of my studio apartment can be one thing,” Stark said. “I don’t know. I’m very happy with what I have in my life right now. I think just having the security for the future, I think I’ll just be very happy about that.”
Jeff Brighton, caddie of Maja Stark of Sweden, celebrates after winning his player won the U.S. Women’s Open. Stacy Revere
Stark’s confidence was low when she got to Wisconsin as she had one top-10 finish this season. A friend told her she needed to play with confidence and her coach gave her a helpful putting tip.
Now she’s won for the second time on the LPGA and for the first time in a major.
“Before this week, I was worried that I wasn’t really going to play decent golf for a while because it felt like it was so far away,” Stark said. “So this just feels huge.”
And something that she and Grant talked about. Now her name will forever be etched on the Harton S. Semple Trophy. And maybe, just maybe, at some point she’ll remember some of the jokes that powered her to an unforgettable, career-changing victory.
“I’m proud of her,” Brighton said. “She’s a star. I’m so impressed. It’s great to be a part of her team.”
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Main Image: Patrick McDermott
