Nelly Korda recorded one other sturdy spherical of golf Friday at St. Andrews for the AIG Ladies’s Open. She signed for a bogey-free 4-under 68 spherical within the match.
Korda sits at 8-under total and holds a three-shot lead over her taking part in companions Lilia Vu and Charley Hull. They’re each at 5-under total.
The afternoon wave nonetheless has to play Spherical 2 of the Ladies’s Open, however Korda set the tone in an enormous manner.
Thursday noticed 40 mph winds for the sphere, and Friday morning introduced the rain to St. Andrews for a short while. The wind returned for the final little bit of her spherical. Nonetheless, it gave Korda one other problem to beat and shoot rating.
“Yesterday it was brutally windy all through the vary session till about most likely 16,” Korda stated. “Then at present, it was raining bit throughout my vary session, after which it was up till most likely my second or third gap. It was fairly calm the entrance 9, after which as soon as we received to most likely — I feel 18 and No. 1 — that’s when it began pumping.”
Her group began on 10, and Korda made seven straight pars to begin her spherical. Korda birdied the seventeenth and 18th to show in 34 strokes. Two extra birdies got here on the par-5 fifth and par-4 ninth holes. That birdie on the final gave her the commanding three-shot benefit.
“I didn’t benefit from the calmer circumstances on my entrance 9, the again 9, however I performed some actually stable golf, and I’m proud of that,” she stated.
Holding the scorecard clear in circumstances like these is kind of an achievement. Forward of the occasion, Korda switched up the flat stick, and it appears to be working thus far. She went from utilizing a Scotty Cameron mid-mallet to a full mallet.
“I put a brand new putter in, the Spider. I simply wanted to have a look at one thing totally different. It rolls properly. I’m more than happy with it. I’ve no grievance,” Korda stated.
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Picture by Morgan Harlow/R&A/R&A through Getty Photographs
The Florida resident is not any stranger to adapting in 2024. In her six LPGA victories, she gained on so many several types of grasses that she is aware of change issues up when she must.
After these previous two days, Korda appears like she has discovered her kind once more. Her recreation appears nearer to 100% than anybody has seen from her shortly.
“I feel this 12 months, on the whole, I’ve gained on so many kinds of grasses in several circumstances that you simply simply type of all the time should adapt,” she stated. “You’re all the time adapting to your conditions, and I feel that’s what’s so enjoyable about hyperlinks golf.
Korda holds the lead for now, however the afternoon waves doubtless odor blood within the water. Plenty of golf is left, however the 26-year-old will likely be in one of many remaining teams for Transferring Day at St. Andrews.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can even comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
