Maja Stark Opens Up About Anxiety After Major Win at Chevron Championship

Swedish golfer Maja Stark revealed she struggled with intense anxiety following her maiden major championship victory at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, speaking candidly during the 2026 Chevron Championship press conference. The 26-year-old described how the sudden spotlight and public scrutiny after winning her first major took a significant toll on her mental health and on-course performance.

Stark explained that after her Erin Hills triumph, where she carded a final-round 71 to finish at 7-under 281 and claim the $2.4 million prize, she began questioning her game despite the historic achievement. “I had a lot of anxiety after the U.S. Open and, you know, switching caddies, too, after the summer and then it just felt like I didn’t know what I was doing anymore. So I didn’t perceive comfortable at all on the course,” she said.

The anxiety was exacerbated by online criticism and unexpected pressure to celebrate her win. Stark noted that comments questioning her sudden struggles — such as “what’s happened? You just won a major? Why do you suck all of a sudden?” — drained her energy and disrupted her focus. “You get comments and stuff saying, what’s happened? You just won a major? Why do you suck all of a sudden? That does take some energy and it just makes you focus on the wrong things. Then I got even more stressed and anxious,” she added.

Her performance reflected the internal struggle, as Stark missed the cut in seven of her next nine tournaments following the U.S. Open victory. Despite leading wire-to-wire at Erin Hills and building a three-shot lead over world No. 1 Nelly Korda with a key birdie on the 11th hole, the mental challenges proved difficult to overcome once the tournament concluded and public attention intensified.

Stark, who turned professional in August 2021 and has since secured nine professional wins — including two on the LPGA Tour, six on the Ladies European Tour, one on the ALPG Tour, and others — captured her first major title after previously coming close as an amateur at the 2020 and 2021 U.S. Women’s Opens. Her win at Erin Hills marked a breakthrough moment in her career, though she acknowledged that the aftermath brought unforeseen psychological hurdles.

By speaking openly about her experience, Stark joins a growing number of athletes addressing mental health challenges in professional sports. Her honesty during the Chevron Championship media session highlights the importance of psychological resilience in elite golf, particularly when success brings heightened expectations and scrutiny.