Nelly Korda Ends 14-Month Drought to Win 2024 LPGA Drive on Championship, Shatters Lydia Ko’s Hopes in Playoffs

The second event on the 2024 LPGA Tour calendar finally crowns its winner. The LPGA Drive-On Championship saw Nelly Korda take the lead in the playoff holes against Lydia Ko to clinch the much-anticipated victory. The professional was able to tie with the Kiwi after a scintillating final day of golf, scoring 2-over 73, pushing her total to 11-under 273. What’s more, the American was able to beat the runner-up, Ko, by scoring a par on the second playoff hole at the par-4 18th at the Bradenton Country Club. Truly a well-deserved victory for the golfer.

That’s not all! The professional managed to grab the title of champion while taking home the winner’s cut of $262,500 from a total of $1.75 million in the prize pool. What’s more, the triumph marks the ninth win for the athlete on the women’s circuit, the last of which came in the 2022 Pelican Women’s Championship. Interestingly, with this victory, Korda was able to finally make her mark on the tour after a win-deprived season spanning 14 months!

Nelly Korda registers her ninth LPGA Tour victory

Although the 25-year-old was able to secure a win in 2023, it came from the Aramco Team Series—London, which is a part of the Ladies European Tour. However, what followed her for the rest of the season was a winless drought which she managed to break at the LPGA Drive-On Championship. Although she faltered during the final round, hitting three bogeys and one double bogey until the 16th, an eagle at the 17th and a birdie on the 18th helped her push for a playoff with the New Zealand professional.

The 1X major champ is currently placed at No. 4 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. The 2023 champion of the event at Superstition Mountain, Celine Boutier, saw herself being awarded 62 points for her victory last year. Regardless, one can only wait to see how much Korda will card this time around for her win.

The 2021 Women’s PGA Championship winner was awarded a total of 500 Race to CME Globe points for her amazing finish. The numbers have propelled the golfer to be projected as second in the standings with a total of 552 points, with runner-up Ko leading the way with a projected total of 820 after the second tourney.

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Coming to the athletes who paired up with the 9-time LPGA Tour champ, Megan Khang and Ayaka Furue placed themselves at T3 and T4, respectively, the latter of whom shared the same with Lucy Li at 7-under 277. Meanwhile, Khang finished with a score of 8-under-276. Regardless, it was an enthralling finish by Korda, proving why she is one of the best in the world!

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