Is Nelly Korda’s U.S. Women’s Open Bid Already Over? Unfavorable Stat Hints at a Tragic Reality

Nelly Korda began her major championship journey at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2013. The then-14-year-old Korda finished tied for 64 and was far away from the glassware. In her illustrious career so far, the U.S. Women’s Open title has still eluded the 14-time LPGA Tour winner. The closest she was ever to clinching the U.S. Women’s Open title was in 2022, when Korda finished T8.

However, in the subsequent year, the Bradenton native was unable to replicate her success and finished T64. Regrettably, the 79th U.S. Women’s Open might end worse than before. Korda started her round one with a septuple bogey on the par-3 12th hole, which became a nightmare for many in the field. And for the 25-year-old, this was the worst hole score she has carded in any major and, surprisingly, her entire LPGA Tour career.

As round one ended at the Lancaster Country Club, Korda was 10 over 80 and in the 136th position on the leaderboard. That puts her 12 strokes behind the round leader, Yuka Saso, with a 2 under 68 scoreline. Will Korda win her first U.S. Open, which has been a forever dream? It might not be the case.

Statistically, 46 of the last 48 major winners in women’s golf started their round on par or better, according to Justin Ray of Athletics. Korda is unlikely to make it, and unless the 14-time LPGA Tour winner pulls an insane comeback to shoot a really low round on day two, she will miss the cut to the U.S. Women’s Open.

Nonetheless, it would be nearly impossible for Korda to take that high of a jump on the leaderboard and be in contention to win the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open. However, in the 2024 season, the 25-year-old has been anything but incredible. Up until the Thursday round at Lancaster, Korda has been phenomenal, and as inarguably the best player in women’s golf, Korda wants people to know that her poor performance was just for the day.

Nelly Korda shares her thoughts on the round-one mishap

“Just honestly, I didn’t play well today,” said the world No. 1 right as she sat for the press conference in Lancaster. It was sheer disappointment that Korda felt after the opening round. However, the 25-year-old recognized it as a temporary setback that might not impact her performance on the second day. Korda was a formidable force, having won six events prior to the 79th U.S. Women’s Open.

Her recent victory was two weeks before the U.S. Women’s Open started at the Mizuho Americas Open. Additionally, the 14-time LPGA Tour winner has already won her second major, the Chevron Championship, earlier this year. And she was set to further try and extend that hot streak this week; however, fate had other plans.

Despite the setback, however, Nelly Korda is more than determined. After the round, she explained to the fans that she was only a human and would have bad days from time to time. She recalled her past performances and said, “I played some really solid golf up to this point. Today was just a bad day.”

With stats speaking against her, the feat in itself looks daunting to achieve. But remember, Nelly Korda was winless in the 2023 season on the LPGA Tour… and now in 2024, the 25-year-old has won six times already!