Nelly Korda gained for the seventh time
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Photos
It’s nonetheless 2024, so Nelly Korda remains to be successful.
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 below, her seventh of the season, over Hull and two others.
“You must 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 adore it 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 resulting from a neck damage.
She had one other huge week at Pelican, beginning it by teeing it up with girls’s basketball famous person 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 lots of blissful ideas in the beginning,” she mentioned. “However, yeah, I imply, I’ve such an important teammate. [McDede] and I’ve been collectively for I believe 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 after I do get down on myself.”
Korda was additionally shocked 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 look at her do her factor,” Sebastian Korda mentioned. “She’s achieved so effectively this 12 months; labored unbelievably laborious. She’s gone by lots of issues and all the time comes again preventing and has simply gotten again to work. That’s some of the issues I love about her is simply how laborious 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 Ladies’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 resulting from damage, that is simply the fourth occasion Korda has gamed the brand new flatstick, together with the Solheim Cup.
Secure to say, it’s working.
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