Maja Stark Embraces New Challenges After U.S. Open Victory

Defending U.S. Open champion Maja Stark has recently reflected on her transformative win last year, a moment that significantly altered her golfing career. After securing her title at Erin Hills in 2025, Stark found herself grappling with the expectations and pressures that came with her newfound success. Prior to her victory, she had only clinched one LPGA title and was primarily focused on maintaining her tour status.

The win guaranteed her a five-year spot on the tour, alleviating the immediate worries about her playing card. However, this shift in circumstances led to a slump; Stark missed five of seven cuts, including two major tournaments. As she returned to Riviera Country Club this week, she was prepared to return her championship trophy and move forward. “It was fun to have it, but it’s more fun to play for it than to have it, I guess,” Stark remarked ahead of the 81st U.S. Women’s Open.

Stark has been open about the challenges she faced over the past year and has made significant changes to her support system. She has begun working with a therapist, in addition to a sports psychologist and a mental coach. “It was just really nice because I didn’t feel like I was crazy... and you're going to get back to normal. All of a sudden it happened,” she shared.

This season, while Stark has made seven of eight cuts, she is still searching for her first win and top-10 finish. However, her performance has been improving, with her best result being a tie for 16th at the Kroger Queen City Championship in mid-May. “I feel confident that I’m working on the right stuff, and the results are going to come,” she said, expressing optimism about her game.

A key adjustment that has positively impacted her play is her recent switch in putters. Given the challenging greens at the U.S. Open, Stark feels it is crucial to be comfortable with her equipment. “It’s so fast out here that I feel like I really need something that I’m comfortable with, and I’m really happy that I have that,” she explained.

With the trophy returned, Stark feels liberated and ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead at one of golf’s most prestigious venues. As she prepares for the competition, she acknowledges a heightened sense of pressure but also a sense of realism. “What are the odds of winning it again? So... that just kind of takes the pressure away,” she concluded.