THE WOODLANDS — At this time last year, Nelly Korda was putting away the field in capturing the Chevron Championship for her fifth win in as many starts on the LPGA Tour.
Defending her title at The Club at Carlton Woods proved difficult for the women’s world No. 1-ranked golfer. Never in contention throughout the tournament, Korda finished 2 under, 5 shots behind the leaders and outside of the top 10 at 14th.
Korda could not overcome a first-round 77. She followed with scores of 68-71-70.
Last year, Korda played all four rounds over the Nicklaus Signature Course in the 60s. She won seven times on tour in earning 2024 LPGA Tour Player of the Year.
“I’m proud of what I did last year,” Korda said. “When I’m on the golf course and when I’m playing, I don’t think about what I did last year. I think people want me to think about it but I don’t. Where the state of my game is, that’s where it is right now.
“It’s not going to help me thinking about the past. Only thing I can do is just work hard and kind of simplify everything and just continue to trend hopefully in the right direction.”
Even though Korda was not in contention this week, her second-round 4-under-68 was a gutsy performance. At one point of the round, she was 7 over and in jeopardy of missing the cut. Korda responded like a champion, posting birdies on six of her final eight holes to get to 1 over for 36 holes. The cut line was 2 over.
“I just had to dig deep. I had nothing to lose,” Korda said describing her Friday round. “You have nothing to lose so may as well just fire at it.”
Ryu closes with eagle
Haeran Ryu made a shot golfers can only dream about. Chipping in for eagle on the final hole of a major championship.
Laying 2 and the ball well past the hole and in the rough, Ryu’s ball tracked perfectly and into the hole for a 3 on the closing par 5. Naturally, the fans erupted with shouts and applause. Ryu was just as enthusiastic.
“Usually, I don’t have reactions about this, but I think I raise my hand up for a while,” Ryu said. “Today, my shot is terrible and my putt also bad. But my last hole was pretty good.”