Nelly Korda vs Lexi Thompson: Who Is the Real Cover Girl for Team USA at the 2023 Solheim Cup?

There are only a few hours left until the biggest battle of the year engulfs the female golf world. From September 22 to 24, the Solheim Cup will take place in Finca Cortesin, Casares, Andalusia, Spain. Team USA has their best stars on their team: Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson.

Thompson is one of the most celebrated stars on the LPGA Tour and has fifteen professional wins. Korda, on the other hand, is just 25 years old and yet is cementing her legacy more and more with each passing year. While Team USA’s Solheim Cup’s dream hangs in the balance, one big question looms: who is the real cover girl for Team USA at the 2023 Solheim Cup?

Nelly Korda has achieved many stunning feats in her career

Nelly Korda is one of the most established players in the history of the LPGA. Her career has seen her nab 12 professional wins. The youngster began her professional journey in 2016, when she won her first pro event at the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge. The win earned her an LPGA Tour card. And just two years later, in 2018, she won her first LPGA title in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship.

In 2019, Korda won the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. The win moved her rank from 16th to 9th, and she became the second-highest-ranked American in the world. She was surpassed only by fifth-ranked Lexi Thompson, her now-Solhiem Cup cover girl rival. Two more wins that year for Korda were just like icing on the top.

2021 was a blessed year for the LPGA star too. She won her year’s first title at the Gainbridge LPGA. And after that, she claimed the Meijer LPGA Classic title. The best accomplishment, however, was yet to come. In June, Korda triumphed at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and proved her talent to everyone. She ended the year by winning her fourth LPGA title at the Pelican Women’s Championship.

Last year, Korda missed many events because of her health issues. She underwent surgery on her left arm. But it seems like Korda can’t stay away from the greens. She returned to play at the U.S. Women’s Open, where she finished in the top ten. That is still her best finish in this major. And she ended 2022 by defending her title in the Pelican Women’s Championship.

However, 2023 has been rough for her. Her injuries forced her to opt out of many events, while her performance in the majors was subpar. After a year of struggle and issues, her best finish was this year’s HSBC Women’s Champions, where she earned a second spot for herself.

As for the Solheim Cup, she has represented Team USA twice, in 2019 and 2021, with a record of 5-2-1. And now that the star is back in her form, we can expect the best from her.

The impressive career record Lexi Thompson has amassed

LPGA star Lexi Thompson, who began playing golf at an early age, has made some truly great contributions to the game. At the mere age of 12, she became the youngest ever golfer to qualify for the US Women’s Open. And at the age of 15, she turned professional. And just a year later, she won her first LPGA tournament when she claimed the Navistar LPGA Classic in 2011. She was the LPGA Tour’s youngest-ever winner as a result. After having celebrated the year, she signed up for the LPGA Tour in 2012.

In 2013, she went on to win three more LPGA titles. In 2014, along with winning her fourth LPGA title, Thompson won her first major championship at the 2014 Chevron Championship. After four years of turning pro, this win made her one of the finest players and the second-youngest women’s major winner at the time. She also claimed the Kraft Nabisco Championship. In addition to prior victories, she won three more LPGA championships through the end of 2016. She ended the year 2017 with two further victories, bringing her total LPGA wins to nine.

But Thompson is a human first, after all. In 2017, she faced controversy over the greens, which affected her personally. She took a break from golf in 2021 to concentrate on her mental health. The 28-year-old did, however, earn her eighth LPGA victory at the CME Group Tour Championship when she defeated her Solheim Cup teammate Nelly Korda by a four-shot margin. She placed second at the US Women’s Open in 2019, which was her best finish to date, and later in June triumphed at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

In the last two years, Thompson has concentrated more on her wellness. But she did finish third in the US Women’s Open in 2021. Her Solheim Cup record is similarly strong, with 11 LPGA victories to her name. Her amazing six consecutive Cup appearances—played in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021—have resulted in a record of 6-6-7.

Read More: Amid One of Her Worst Career Slumps, Solheim Cup Star Lexi Thompson Has a Reassuring Message for the Concerned US Fans

Which LPGA star is the ultimate cover girl for Team USA?

By examining the careers of these two golfers, it is clear that they have both elevated female golf to a new level and cemented their places among the most accomplished female athletes. The affection of the fans, however, is another static that can answer the aforementioned query.

Thompson has faced scrutiny for her rule disputes in recent years, notably the infamous 2017 rule backlash, which forced her to take a hiatus in 2018. She also recently came under fire for making bold remarks regarding LIV Golf and its potential impact on women’s golf. In her illustrious career, Thompson has occasionally faced several backlashes.

For Korda, on the other hand, things have always been positive. Over the years, she’s received nicknames like “American Sweetheart” and “Fan Favorite,” all thanks to the steadfast loyalty of her followers. Moreover, of late too, the 25-year-old has been the one turning up on the green and dishing out splendid performances, while Thompson is currently spiraling down in her career. Considering that arguably Nelly Korda should be crowned the cover girl of Team USA for the Solheim Cup, wouldn’t you agree? Let us know in the comments below.

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