Korda wins first Major

RANKINGS: VICTORY IN WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPS SEES THE AMERICAN HIT THE TOP

Nelly Korda won the Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday to capture her first Major title and become the first American since 2014 to seize the world No 1 ranking.

The 22-year-old daughter of retired Czech tennis star Petr Korda made two eagles in out-dueling compatriot Lizette Salas down the stretch for a three-stroke triumph.

“I’ve put in a lot of work,” Korda said. “And to finally get three wins under my belt this year and a Major championship, I don’t even have words, honestly.”

Korda fired a four-under-par 68 to finish 72 holes on 19-under 269 at Atlanta Athletic Club with Salas on 272 after a closing 71.

She jumped from third to first in yesterday’s new rankings, overtaking South Korea’s No 1 Ko Jin-young and second-ranked Park In-bee.

Korda will become the first American atop the rankings since Stacy Lewis in October 2014 and only the third US player atop the list since it began in 2006, after Lewis and Cristie Kerr.

Korda became the first American to win a Major women’s golf title since Angela Stafford at the 2018 Evian.

“This is something I’ve worked for since I was 14,” Korda said. “I wanted to win a Major since I

played in my first one.

“To finally get it done here in Atlanta with such an amazing crowd, it was something special.”

South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo and Italy’s Giulia Molinaro shared a distant third on 278 with Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and American Danielle Kang sharing fifth on 280.

Korda claimed her third LPGA

victory of the year after Boca Rio in February and last week at the LPGA Meijer Classic.

“I had a great week last week and carried the momentum into this week,” Korda said.

“I just played really well this week.”

Salas, whose only LPGA victory came in 2014 at Kingsmill, matched her best Major showing,

a runner-up effort at the 2019 Women’s British Open.

The turning point came at the par-five 12th, when Korda dropped her second shot within five feet of the cup and Salas sent her third into a bunker, as Korda rolled in an eagle putt to reach 20-under par, a three-shot swing that gave Korda a four-stroke edge at that stage. –

Picture: AFP PINNACLE. Nelly Korda poses with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the Women’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek.