Nelly Korda earns first LPGA win since 2022
BRADENTON, Fla. – Nelly Korda had no idea her homecoming would involve a ride on a roller coaster.
Up four strokes when play began in Sunday’s final round of the LPGA Drive On Championship, the Bradenton resident lost the lead on the back nine, then pulled back even on her final two holes to force a sudden-death playoff with Lydia Ko. From there, the golfer winless on the LPGA tour since 2022 made sure 2024 would be different by winning on the second extra hole to claim the tournament win at Bradenton Country Club.
For the victory, Korda’s ninth LPGA triumph and first since capturing the Pelican Women’s Championship in November 2022, she earned $262,500 and 500 points in the Race to the CME Globe. She finished Sunday’s round at 2-over-par 73 and minus-11 for the tournament, identical to Ko, the winner of last week’s season-opening event.
“Gosh, I thought that the tournament was over going into 17,” Korda said. “I just kind of gave myself a chance. I knew that if I rolled that eagle in, I had to birdie the last hole. Yeah, I seem to always make it very dramatic and interesting, so there is no better feeling than to do it in front of a home crowd. ... It was such a grind out there, so back and forth. I felt like I never really got anything going. But, I mean, I just can’t even believe it right now.”
For her efforts, 26-year-old Ko took home $163,689. Her win in last week’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions left her one point shy of reaching the 27 required to enter the LPGA Hall of Fame and Korda’s comeback denied her of that point.
A homecoming that followed the script for the first three days flipped horribly for Korda. Her four-shot lead evaporated as the world’s No. 4 player submitted two bogeys and one double bogey on the back nine. The fade allowed Ko to take advantage with two birdies and an eagle on her back nine to vault ahead with two holes to play.
At minus-8 for the tournament, Korda needed to pick up three strokes over those final two holes. The 25year-old eagled No. 17, moving one shot back. Then needing a birdie on the par-4 18, Korda did, pulling even.