After 4-month layoff, Korda 1 back at Evian
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Nelly Korda is just trying to enjoy herself at the Evian Championship after a four-month injury layoff that has given her more perspective about her golf.
Not that she felt so great taking a shot while standing barefoot in a slimy lake.
“I’ve never done anything like that and I must say, it was really gross,” Korda said about her adventure at No. 18 midway through an 7-under 64 that left her a stroke behind first-round leader Ayaka Furue on Thursday in the fourth major of 2022.
Korda’s approach shot at the par-5 18th hole — her ninth of the day after starting at No. 10 — ended up rolling down a bank on the front right of the green and into the water. Her caddie ran up to the green and saw it was possible to make contact with the ball, so Korda removed her golf shoes, waded into the lake, and splashed out to the edge of the green.
Korda went on to make par.
“It was really slimy,” Korda said, making a face before laughing.
The American missed a 12-foot birdie putt at her last hole but still shot her lowest round of the year, continuing her impressive comeback after time out following surgery on a blood clot in her arm.
This is her fifth event since returning to competitive action on June 16 and she has three top-10s in that time. She was No. 1 in the world when she stopped playing and now is No. 3.
“I think I’m a little more chill about it all,” she said. “I’m trying to enjoy myself as much as possible on the golf course.”
American golfer Cheyenne Knight was in the clubhouse in fourth place at 6 under, a stroke ahead of top-ranked Jin Young Ko and another two-time major champion, Lydia Ko. Also shooting 66s were Japan’s Yuna Nishimura, France’s Perrine Delacour and England’s Charley Hull.
Ames, Day atop Senior British
Playing with a new set of golf clubs after his own ones failed to arrive from the United States, Glen Day never expected to be a contender at the Senior British Open this week.
Imagine his surprise, then, at taking a share of the lead after the first round at Gleneagles on Thursday.
Day converted an 8-foot eagle putt at the par-5 18th at The King’s Course to match Stephen Ames’ bogey-free 6-under 64.
Im and Piercy share lead at 3M
Scott Piercy shot a 6-under 65 to share the 3M Open lead with Sungjae Im after the first round in Blaine, Minn., fresh off several significant changes he made in search of a late-season boost.
Tony Finau was two strokes back, with three near misses of birdie putts over his last four holes.
Brice Garnett, Doug Ghim, Emiliano Grillo and Tom Hoge are tied with Finau at 67.