Home/Golf

via Imago

via Imago

Earlier this month, Nelly Korda ended her winning streak with a T7 finish at the Cognizant Founders Cup. But she came back with a bang a week later. Last week at the Mizuho Americas Open, the World No. 1 grabbed yet another victory in the eight events she’s played this season. Shooting a 1-under 71 on Sunday, she defeated Hannah Green by a stroke to take home her sixth win in her last seven starts.

The victory was no cakewalk. Despite the terrible weather in New Jersey, and her shaky start (3 bogeys in her first 7 holes), Korda managed to shine through the storm. Post-game, she humbly confessed that she had not been at her best and even praised Hannah Green, who gave her a run for her money. “Didn’t play all that well,” she said. “I just told myself that even though I was 2-over [after my first few holes], I still had opportunities on the back nine to take the lead or battle with Hannah because she was playing solid golf.” And even though the 2-time major winner claimed to have not been at her best, her stats tell a completely different story!

Nelly Korda breaks the Tour average

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Nelly Korda scored a -14 at the Mizuho Americas Open, in spite of two 70 and over over rounds. And despite the fact that she believes that she “didn’t play all that well,” her season stats for GIR post-event say otherwise. As reported by Justin Ray, from the Fairways, Korda has been hitting the green in regulation 84.2% of the time in 2024. What about the rest of the field? Well, “The Tour average this season from the fairway is 74%.”

Interestingly, that’s not all. As per the LPGA’s stats, Korda also ranks first on the Tour in overall green in-regulation with an average of 75.99%. Additionally, for the shots where she’s missed the fairway, she has a GIR (after missed fairways) of 60.8%, 4th on the whole Tour.

This year has essentially been a record-breaking year for the World No. 1, not just with her GIR record. Korda also etched her name in LPGA history books, becoming only the fourth golfer (the other three being Babe Zaharis, Louise Suggs, and Lorena Ochoa) since 1998 to win six times on the Tour within five months (before June 1).

The two-time major winner is also now the only golfer to achieve six victories in a single season in the last decade. Inbee Park achieved this feat previously, back in 2013. Moreover, with her win at the Chevron Championship last month, she became only the third female player to ever do so. Annika Sorenstam (2004–05) and Nancy Lopez (1978) are the only other two she shares that podium with.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Notably, both the GIR and six-win record were arguably very close to crumbling when Korda started her Sunday round with a bogey on the second and then another on the fifth hole. However, she turned things around in the second half and came out victorious in the shadows of the Manhattan skyline after a stunning few birdies.

Korda pulled a clutch win at Liberty National

Nelly Korda ended the front nine with 2-over on Sunday. Given that she had started the round with just a two stroke lead things were not looking good. And for the push she needed to pull up her socks, thankfully she had her caddie Jason McDede. With a gentle nudge from him and his constant support in her ear, Korda was able to turn things around.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

She started off the back nine with a birdie and then followed it with two more at the 13th and 15th holes. On the other hand, Green, too, was relentless and matched each of her birdies at the same three holes. The two, who were also paired together that day, were even until the end. And sadly, it was Green who faltered with a bogey on the 18th. All Korda had to do thereafter was save par… And she did!

“Oh, my gosh, six. I can’t even really gather myself right now with that,” she said. “The head-to-head that Hannah and I had pretty much all day. Wasn’t my best stuff out there today, but fought hard on the back nine.” There’s still four majors to be played this year and the rest of the season too, and Nelly Korda no doubt will be aiming to add a few more wins to her belt!