Texarkana Gazette

Whoa, Nelly! A major title for Korda and No. 1 world ranking

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — First came the tears when Nelly Korda hugged her older sister and didn’t want to let go. That was followed by the spray of champagne on the 18th green to celebrate a day that will be hard for her to top even at age 22.

With one round, she became a major champion for the first time and reached No. 1 in the world.

“Is this week even real?” Korda said. “It’s amazing.” Just like her performanc­e Sunday in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championsh­ip.

Korda powered her way to a pair of eagles that wore down Lizette Salas at Atlanta Athletic Club and put an American atop the world ranking for the first time in seven years.

Korda nearly holed out with a 7-wood from 243 yards for a tap-in eagle. She seized control by using her length from that graceful swing, leaving her a 6-iron into the par-5 12th hole that narrowly cleared the water and set up an 8-foot eagle putt.

The final stroke was a 15-foot par putt for a 4-under 68 and a three-shot victory over Salas.

“The past few days, the battle with Lizette, it’s been a lot of fun. It’s been stressful. I think it’s had everything,”

Korda said. “But I just can’t believe it. I’m still in shock.”

At 19-under 269, she tied the Women’s PGA record to par last matched by Inbee Park at Westcheste­r Country Club in 2015.

Korda won for the second straight week — her third LPGA title this year — and it was enough to become the first American at No. 1 in the women’s world ranking since Stacy Lewis in 2014.

Jin Young Ko had held the No. 1 spot for nearly two years.

Her only mistake came when it didn’t matter.

Korda seized control with a 6-iron she caught heavy enough to worry it might not clear the pond on the par-5 12th and was relieved when it rolled out to 8 feet for eagle. That turned into a three-shot swing when Salas — who spent the weekend hitting hybrids on holes that Korda had short irons — hit wedge over the green into a bunker and made bogey.

“That was my favorite wedge, too,” Salas said. “The good thing is I was committed to that shot. This wind is pretty swirly. Maybe a little dropkick, I don’t know. Got a few extra yards out of it.”

Korda made an 18-foot birdie putt on No. 14 to stretch her lead to five shots with four holes to play, only to end 49 consecutiv­e holes without a bogey by hitting into the water on the par-3 15th for a double bogey.

But she steadied herself with a pair of pars and played it conservati­vely down the par-5 closing hole over water.

Korda’s older sister, Jessica, was among the first to embrace her on the 18th green as the emotions began to emerge.

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