Nelly Korda gained for the seventh time
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Photos
It’s nonetheless 2024, so Nelly Korda remains to be profitable.
Korda began the ultimate day the closest purser and one again of Charley Hull on the ANNIKA Pushed by Gainbridge at Pelican, however had doubled that deficit after the entrance 9 after three early bogeys.
However then Korda caught the identical fireplace that has led to one of many best seasons in LPGA historical past, making 5 birdies in a row to show a two-shot deficit right into a three-shot victory at 14 beneath, her seventh of the season, over Hull and two others.
“It is best to have felt the nerves that I used to be feeling on the again 9, after which simply after taking a while off with an damage, it feels nice to be again out right here,” Korda mentioned. “Nothing like being within the hunt, the adrenaline feeling on the again 9, and being in rivalry. I find it irresistible a lot.”
Korda turns into the primary participant since Yani Tseng in 2011 to win 7 or extra titles in a season with only one occasion remaining on the schedule. Korda had already locked up the LPGA’s Rolex Participant of the Yr award final week, regardless of not enjoying since September as a result of a neck damage.
She had one other large week at Pelican, beginning it by teeing it up with girls’s basketball celebrity Caitlin Clark within the pro-am.
Now a win in subsequent week’s CME Group Tou Championship would make her the primary participant to eight victories in an LPGA season since Lorena Ochoa in 2007.
However on Sunday, that appeared removed from seemingly as she began poorly for the second straight day. She credited longtime caddie Jason McDede for serving to jumpstart her back-nine 30, a theme she has echoed all through the season.
Caitlin Clark tees it up with Nelly Korda, proves she is human | Rogers Report
“Not plenty of blissful ideas at the start,” she mentioned. “However, yeah, I imply, I’ve such an ideal teammate. [McDede] and I’ve been collectively for I feel subsequent 12 months happening our ninth 12 months. Having him by my facet clearly helps as a result of he is aware of what to say once I do get down on myself.”
Korda was additionally stunned on the 18th inexperienced by her brother, skilled tennis participant Sebastian Korda. Whereas Korda’s mother and father and typically sister and fellow LPGA professional Jessica have been mainstays in Nelly wins, she mentioned this was the primary time Sebastian had seen her win in particular person.
“It’s fairly cool to observe her do her factor,” Sebastian Korda mentioned. “She’s finished so effectively this 12 months; labored unbelievably onerous. She’s gone via plenty of issues and all the time comes again combating and has simply gotten again to work. That’s one of the vital issues I love about her is simply how onerous of a employee she is.”
That is additionally Korda’s first win this season since altering from the putter that gained her first six titles earlier this 12 months, together with her second main on the Chevron Championship.
Earlier than the AIG Girls’s Open, Korda inserted a TaylorMade Spider Tour X with an L-neck and shorter sightline. She has saved it within the bag ever since, however as a result of damage, that is simply the fourth occasion Korda has gamed the brand new flatstick, together with the Solheim Cup.
Protected to say, it’s working.
“>
