Nelly Korda gets over a bad form on the final day to grind first win in the United States, finishing three hits ahead of Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko, while Annika Sorenstam watches forward to some housework!
By Keith Jackson
Last updated: 28/02/21 9:46 pm
Nelly Korda won the Gainbridge LPGA with three hits
Nelly Korda enjoyed her first win on home ground as she claimed the Gainbridge LPGA title with three hits despite a “helpful” final in Florida.
The win was the second in so many events for Korda’s family on the LPGA Tour this year, with older sister Jessica having won the Diamond Resorts Tournament five weeks ago.
As the 22-year-old celebrated her fourth LPGA success, Annika Sorenstam was unable to avoid going up on the field over the weekend, closing with 76 to finish 13 over par in her first professional competition for 13 years.
At the right end of the board, Korda slept on a one-shot lead overnight as she extended to a comfortable edge with three birdies over the first six holes while playing partner Patty Tavatanakit struggled to stay in the riot.
Korda was not at his best on the final day
Korda reached the turn with a five-shot win over the field, with Lexi Thompson emerging as the biggest threat when she led an eagle on the 11th to get to 13 under par.
But Thomson then moved the 12th to give Korda a little more breathing space back, who had to work harder than she wanted to keep a clean card and avoid slipping back towards her. running folder.
Korda made a series of clutch par saves with the knowledge that there would likely be enough golf par to see her across the line, and she finally grabbed the win with her 12th consecutive par.
Her three under-69s were enough to secure a decisive win over Thompson (68) and Lydia Ko, who came in a second-place division with four birdies in a row at the back nine on the way to 69.
Korda put out three of the first six holes and ran out of there
But the manner and margin that Korda won was false, as she revealed in an emotional interview after the competition.
“Honestly I didn’t play really good golf today, and I just stayed firm,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t even know what I did. It was terribly stressful.
“I’m so happy. I can’t wait to get my feet up and rest for about 24 hours before I leave again next week. I’ve had an amazing week and did clutch putts when needed I had it on and pulled it off, so that was nice.
“I was very restless all day. I wasn’t hitting well, I wasn’t hitting enough green and I wasn’t hitting well off the tee. But I held it together and I was grinding today, and my chaddy was definitely a big part of why I’m here right now, holding the cup.
Annika Sorenstam feels she needs a long rest after she finishes back
“He kept me calm and he’s someone I can get into. He even said, ‘If you need to get hold of someone, grab me’. So sometimes it’s really good to get out He’s such a good team player. I owe him a lot of my success. “
While Korda prepared for the various challenges yet to come on the LPGA Tour, Sorenstam was looking forward to returning home to grab some work before preparing for the U.S. Women’s Open.
“I feel like I need two weeks of breathing,” said the Swede, who confirmed that the start of this week would be a one-off. “It’s a big job, a lot of golf. Putting it aside has been great, but I’m going to take some time off, get back to normal life and clean the house a bit and get back to laundry and all nothing that needs to be done.
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“I’m going to try to play something somewhere. I’m going to continue working, and I’m going to schedule some games with some of the local LPGA players and really try to do my best and go out and really focus and do that.
“That’s really all I need instead of going out and social golf and I’m not too worried. I’m looking forward to that. I’m looking forward to building some of those friends and going out there and having a good time. “