Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

Gilbert, Arizona – Nelly Korda won her hometown event in a playoff, closing with an eagle-birdie. She overcame terrible winds in Southern California to win another playoff last week.

The world number one made it three in a row by staying steady on a wet Sunday in the desert.

Korda became the first LPGA Tour player in eight years to win three consecutive events, playing a 7-under 65 to win by two strokes in the Ford Championship.

Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

“It’s very hard mentally to be 100%, especially after a win, especially when playing in tough conditions,” Korda stated in a press conference. “As dull as it sounds, I was just taking shots and seeing where I’d wind up. “Getting three in a row is like a dream come true.”

Korda won the Drive On Championship in late January in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida, before missing the whole LPGA Tour’s Asian swing. She remained sharp following a seven-week sabbatical, winning the Fir Hill Seri Pak Championship in a playoff near Los Angeles last week to reclaim the world number one spot.

Korda was consistent over four days in the desert, entering the final round two strokes down at Seville Golf and Country Club despite increasingly bad weather.

Korda nearly holed her second shot on the short par-4 16th to take the lead, then birdied 18 to finish at 20-under 268 for her 11th LPGA victory. She became the first LPGA Tour player to win three consecutive events since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 and the first American to do so since Nancy Lopez in 1978.

“(It) just feels like a blur,” Korda explained. “Taking it day by day, really trying to stay very present and just played really good golf, solid golf in tough conditions today, which I’m very happy about.”

Australian rookie Hira Naveed could tie Korda after striking her second shot just right of the par-5 18th, but an unsatisfactory chip resulted in a par. In her second career start, the former Pepperdine golfer shot 66 and finished second at 18 under par.

Lexi Thompson temporarily shared the lead and was within a shot of victory after 15 holes in her hunt for her first win since 2019. She struck the driver on the 16th and sent it straight into the water, resulting in a bogey.

Thompson also missed a short par putt on No. 17 before finishing with a two-putt birdie on No. 18 to shoot 68. She finished in a five-way tie for fourth place at 17 under.

Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

“It was crazy conditions, but it was almost just like it gets to where it’s mental when it comes to these kind of conditions,” said Thompson. “You simply have to stay positive and understand that pars are a fantastic score. If you have a good number, take advantage of it; try to shoot for the pin and hit some birdies.”

Temperatures dropped considerably, and rain fell steadily during the final round, adding a layer of hardship to a competition that began with two days of record-breaking scores.

The inclement weather did nothing to impede the leaders, with four players tied for the lead and 11 within two shots early on the back nine.

In order to finish at 3-under 33, Korda started her final round with two consecutive birdies on No. 4, then added another on the par-4 ninth. She tied for the lead with a birdie on the par-5 12th and won outright at 18 under with a 6-foot birdie putt on the 13th.

Thompson and Haveed tied her, but Korda rallied with a near-hole out on 16, setting her a birdie to take a one-shot lead. Korda fired a tremendous drive on No. 18 and chipped to three feet for the final birdie.

“Just tried to stay really aggressive and I knew I had to shoot a low one to be in contention,” Korda told reporters. “Just played really smart golf out there today.”

Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

Naveed reached the record-low cut of 5 under par and stormed up the leaderboard with a third-round 65 before the wind came up. She moved into a tie for the lead at 18 under with a birdie on the island par-3 17th, but her chip on 18 fell around 20 feet short, and she missed the putt.

“It’s just breathing a sigh of relief, really, and just saying, ‘All right, put your head down; there are scoring opportunities out there,'” Naveed explained. “Just go out there and do your best, commit to each shot, and try to hole some putts.” So excited to do it over the weekend.”

So is Korda, who has positioned herself to win her fourth consecutive T-Mobile Match Play next week in Las Vegas.

SOURCE – (AP)