Nelly Korda won for the 7th time
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It’s still 2024, so Nelly Korda is still a winner.
Korda started the final day as the nearest keeper and one back of Charley Hull in the ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, but had doubled that deficit on the front nine after three early bogeys.
But then Korda caught the same fire that has led to one of the greatest seasons in LPGA history, making five straight birdies to turn a two-shot deficit into a three-shot victory at 14. her seventh of the season, more. Hull and two others.
“You should have felt the nerves I was feeling on the back nine, and then just after taking some time off with an injury, it feels good to be back here,” Korda said. “Nothing like being in the hunt, feeling the adrenaline on the back nine and being in contention. I love him so much.”
Korda becomes the first player since Yani Tseng in 2011 to win 7 or more titles in a season with just one event remaining on the schedule. Korda had already capped off with the Rolex Player of the Year award from the LPGA last week, despite not having played since September due to a neck injury.
She had another big week at the Pelican, kicking it off teaming up with women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark in pro-am.
Now a win at next week’s CME Group Tour Championship would make her the first player with eight wins in an LPGA season since Lorena Ochoa in 2007.
But on Sunday, that looked unlikely as she got off to a bad start for the second day in a row. She credited veteran caddy Jason McDede for helping her get started at age 30. a theme she has echoed throughout the season.
Caitlin Clark Joins Nelly Korda, Proves She’s Human | The Rogers Report
“Not many happy thoughts at first,” she said. “But, yeah, I mean, I have such a great teammate. (McDede) and I have been together for the next year, I think it will be the ninth year. Having him around definitely helps because he knows what to say when I get down on myself.”
Korda was surprised on the 18th green by her brother, professional tennis player Sebastian Korda. While Korda’s parents and sometime sister and fellow LPGA pro Jessica have been mainstays in Nelly’s victories, she said this was the first time Sebastian had seen her win in person.
“It’s really cool to watch him do what he has,” Sebastian Korda said. “She has done very well this year; worked incredibly hard. She has been through a lot and always comes back fighting and has just returned to work. That’s one of the best things I admire about her is how hardworking she is.”
It’s also Korda’s first win of the season since switching from the shot put to win her first six titles earlier this year, including her second major at the Chevron Championship.
The only club change for Nelly Korda between her 6th and 7th wins this season was swapping her Scotty Cameron Squareback 2 for a TaylorMade Spider Tour X.
TM reps built her an L-neck model with a short sight line just before the British Open, and she’s been using it ever since. (
Getty/TM) pic.twitter.com/Fne54JT8Ce
— Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 17, 2024
Before the AIG Women’s Open, Korda put one up TaylorMade Spider Tour X with an L neck and a shorter sight line. She has kept it in her bag ever since, but due to the injury, this is only the fourth event Korda has played in the new club, including the Solheim Cup.
Safe to say, it’s working.
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