Can Yuka Saso, the two-time U.S. Open champion, pull off something nobody has seen since 2006 and win the U.S. Women’s Open three times? After her breakthrough victories in 2021 and 2024, all eyes will be on her as she aims for an extraordinary hat trick. But the path won’t be easy, as she will have to beat Nelly Korda. Korda, who has the #1 ranking in the LPGA tour and 15 career wins, is all up for a challenge, especially after her 2024 Chevron Championship victory that must have given her an extra boost of confidence. and Lydia Ko, a three-time major.

The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, one of golf’s most prestigious major championships, will take place from May 29 to June 1. The game won’t be the one to miss. This year’s U.S. Women’s Open returns to the legendary Erin Hills course in Wisconsin, a venue famous for its vast, rolling terrain and ever-changing winds. Three holes in particular have earned popularity as the tournament’s toughest and are much more capable of turning the leaderboard upside down.

Erin Hills has earned admiration from several professional golfers for its unique design and challenging play. Patrick Reed described it as “a great golf course.” and Justin Rose appreciated the course’s design, stating that it rewards aggressive play when in the fairways but punishes players who get out of position. It has a good design and is appropriate for majors and all, but it comes with its card-wrecker holes. 

The Top 3 most challenging Holes at Erin Hills

4th hole

The first would be hole number 4; this one is famous as the most difficult. Honestly, the 4th hole might not look like much on the scorecard, as it’s just 403 yards from the middle tees, but don’t let that fool you. This one’s a quiet troublemaker as the fairway is tight, and there’s a nasty deep bunker on the right that’s basically a magnet for drives that drift even a little. The approach is where it gets tricky. There’s a false front on the right, bunkers short and left, a slope on the left side, and a drop-off into wetlands behind the green. You’ve got to pay attention to the pin and know where your safest miss is. This hole punishes anything careless.

9th hole 

The 9th hole at Erin Hills might only be 165 yards, but it messes with a lot of golfers. From the tee, it looks straightforward, which is a short par 3 downhill shot, but once you play it, you realize it’s anything but easy. The green is shaped like a dome, and if you’re not dead center, your ball can roll right off in any direction. And not only this, the green is surrounded by trouble: deep bunkers and thick fescue. Instead of going pin-hunting, the safer play is just to land it solid and give yourself a look from the middle. Getting too aggressive usually means you’re chipping back up from somewhere you don’t want to be.

18th Hole

The 18th at Erin Hills is no joke. It’s a long 675 yards. This hole’s a true test. Jordan Spieth knows that all too well, as back in 2011, he ran into a wall of trouble here, battling “bunker to bunker to bunker” and ending up with a costly bogey. What makes the 18th tricky is that you can play it a million different ways. You can be cautious, laying up with an iron off the tee, or you can swing for the fences and risk it all. It’s a gamble every time. The green’s tricky too with bunkers, thick rough, and a false front all around. Miss your spot and your ball could roll way down a steep hill, leaving a tough chip. 

At the end of the day, every great course has its tricky holes—whether it’s three like Erin Hills or even more. Golf is an unpredictable game, and it all comes down to who’s put in the work and shows up ready to win. Fan’s favorite is Korda, and she is expected to win. Will it be an underdog making a surprise run, or will the defending champion hold on to their crown? That’s what makes the U.S. Women’s Open a can’t-miss event.