Nelly Korda is back on the course, and she didn’t miss a single beat. The woman opened The Annika with a ridiculous 7-under 65, totally bogey-free, and she’s already sitting just two shots back from Minami Katsu and Hye-Jin Choi. This is her first competition since the Solheim Cup, and she’s just straight up balling.
Back from Burnout, Playing Like Fire
Can you believe it? Two months off, feeling “burned out” after the Solheim Cup, needing to “mentally step away for a few days,” and she comes out firing like this. Korda even said she needed that break right after Solheim, where she went 2-1-1 in an American loss over in the Netherlands. She typically skips the Asia swing, uses that time to recharge, and then hits these final two Florida events. This is why she’s the best. She’s got four wins this year already, with her first U.S. Women’s Open title in early June being the big one. She’s already clinched LPGA player of the year based on points, for crying out loud. That’s just wild.
Hall of Fame on the Horizon, But Competition Is Heating Up
But here’s the kicker, folks: a victory in either of these final two events means she qualifies for the LPGA Hall of Fame. Yeah, you heard that right. Hall. Of. Fame. She’s also leading the Race to CME Globe, and while any of the 60 players in next week’s Tour Championship could snag that $2 million prize, she’s in prime position. Plus, she’s got a shot to pass Annika Sorenstam, the tournament host, on the career money list this week. She says the Hall of Fame isn’t on her mind, that she’s just “focusing on being competitive and trying to give it my all,” and that “the accolades are great,” but you know that has to be in the back of her head, right?
Meanwhile, Hye-Jin Choi came out absolutely lights out with a 63, dropping birdies on half her holes. She’s looking for her first LPGA title in five years and managed to hit 17 greens in regulation, which is insane, especially since she usually struggles with Florida grass. Minami Katsu matched that 63, going bogey-free and ripping off three straight birdies late in her round. Lindy Duncan is right there too with a 64. It’s a shootout, and Korda is right in the thick of it.
So, Nelly Korda is only two shots back heading into Friday. Can she keep this bogey-free streak going? Will the Hall of Fame carrot be enough to push her over the top? This is going to be appointment viewing, my friends. You don’t want to miss what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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