Two things happened on past Sunday: Team USA won the Solheim Cup after 3 editions, and Nelly Korda ended her Solheim Cup drought. The 26-year-old was instrumental in Team USA’s victory, showcasing her composure and clutch mentality. She won 16 out of the 30 holes she played on Friday, which is the highest number of holes won in a single day since at least 2015. World #1 gained 7.5 strokes on the field during her afternoon four-ball match on the first day, and even skipper Lewis found it “pretty impressive” as “it’s the highest [the stats team has] ever seen a single session that they have worked.” 

On Sunday, she lost her Singles match against Europe’s Charley Hull but she thanked her for “humbling a** whooping.” Now that the biennial event is over, golfers will go back to playing against each other without the patriotic feeling but what is next on Nelly Korda’s agenda?

Will the fans see Nelly Korda at the Kroger Queen City Championship?

Korda will now turn her attention towards the Kroger Queen City Championship scheduled from September 19-22. The tournament will be held at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the golfers are fighting for the biggest share of the $2 million prize purse. The world number 1 will be looking to dethrone current champion, Australian Minjee Lee. Last year, she did not play in the event but with the overall season Korda has had so far, she will be expected to carry the momentum to Maineville.

Korda has shown remarkable improvements in various facets of her game in 2024. Like her driving accuracy. Korda has been known for her strong drives; however, she has struggled with her accuracy on some occasions. Like in the final round of the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she had to sacrifice the chance to go for a birdie at the par-4 15th hole because of a mishit shot that ended up in the rough. However, she salvaged the situation and went on to win. During the Solheim Cup, she consistently found fairways in the afternoon four-ball session and set up the perfect approach shot, which was crucial to pull off from a strategic point of view.

Another aspect of Korda’s game that has improved is her general focus and resilience. For example, during the 2022 Chevron Championship’s par-5 11th hole, Korda hit her approach shot into the water hazard after missing key putts in the previous holes. Her visible frustration spilled over into her game, where she subsequently made a series of bogeys. But during the Solheim Cup, she faced many delicate situations and rose above the challenges.

The competition will be fierce as the 14x LPGA Tour winner will have to go head-to-head with some of the best golfers who have had a great season.

Who are the other top contenders for the $2 million prize?

The Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko is a great shout for claiming the top spot. Other than the Olympic medal, Ko won twice this year, first was the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, and second was the 2024 AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews. She finished the final round with a score of 69, claiming her third major championship title. Her wins this year could have been three but she lost to Korda in a playoff in LPGA Drive On Championship.

Young stars, like 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup winner Rose Zhang and 2024 U.S. Women’s Open winner Yuka Saso, will also look to add more silverware to their trophy cabinets and will be in strong contention. The event will feature some immense talent and it will surely be an exciting spectacle. How do you think the Kroger Queen City Championship will shape up? Who else can win it since the field also has other big names like Charley Hull? Let us know in the comments!