SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON | When world No. 1 Nelly Korda missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open on the final day of May, there was little cause for alarm. It was a blip. One hole did her in, after all, a not-so-perfect 10. Victory No. 7 in this, the “Season of Nelly,” would just have to wait.
At the Meijer LPGA Classic, again, another missed cut by Korda, but no need for panic. She shot 76-67. Another hiccup. The opening round wasn’t very good, but she drove it great on Day 2, making six birdies and missing the weekend by a shot meant an extra day to head west and kick the tires at Sahalee Country Club, a place she never had seen.
Silver-lining stuff, right?
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship marked another fresh start for Korda. Here, we experienced a tale of two Nellys. It was the best of times – an opening 69, leaving herself in familiar turf, one shot out of the lead – and clearly, the worst of times. A second-round 9-over 81 was stunning. Shocking. Troubling. The putts that didn’t lip out stayed on the edge. She hit a hybrid approach from the rough at 15 that bounded long, inches out of bounds, making double.
Korda missed the cut by one. This one had baggage. Never before had Korda – 14 wins, including two majors, an Olympic gold medal and one foot practically in the World Golf Hall of Fame – missed three consecutive cuts on the LPGA. This time, the scene was one of discomfort. Confusion. It was the highest round by a top-ranked player at a women’s major since the rankings began in 2006.
“It’s just golf recently for me. No words for how I’m playing right now. I’m just going to go home and reset.”
Nelly Korda
This was an unraveling, taking her to a place she had not been. Again, no need to hit the panic button, but this time, at the very least, it was worth finding out just where it was.
Korda, to her credit, attempted to answer a couple of questions from Golfweek reporter Beth Ann Nichols about her sideways, upside-down day, but she had a hard time finding words. First, she stepped away to try to gather herself.
Then, through tears, Korda offered this: “It’s just golf recently for me. No words for how I’m playing right now. I’m just going to go home and reset.”
Don’t ever trust golf or count on it to be there for you. It’ll never be your best man or maid of honor. It’s a great game, sure, but just before breaking your heart, it will tear it out and step on it.
Korda seemed to be in a good place a week after missing the cut in Michigan. She was philosophical about even finding a small sliver of joy in the struggle. She won five straight starts, from January into April, something last done nearly 20 years ago – then this. Golf can humble you, something she understands and embraces. That was her thought process going into KPMG, anyway. Leaving? Enough is enough.
That No. 1 player so visibly hurt and stunned by what had transpired over 18 forgetful holes at Sahalee – OK, 17 forgetful holes; there was a brilliant bunker shot to set up a lone birdie at the last – was the same one who turned golf sideways and stood it on its ear for the year’s first five months. The one who leads the LPGA in scoring at 69.71.
Dare we remember the high times? Playoff victory at the LPGA Drive On near her home in Bradenton, Florida; playoff victory in Los Angeles, at the Fir Hills Seri Pak; a two-shot win at the Ford Championship in Arizona; a convincing triumph over Leona Maguire at T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas; a fifth straight win at Chevron, her second major; and, one month later, victory No. 6 at the Mizuho Americas Open.
Some people would call six wins a pretty nice career; for Korda, it was just the first half of 2024. A little intermission, a few electrolytes, and perhaps more history to follow.
But that’s best left to fantasy writers. This is golf, and it’s harder than a cart path. One minute you are smiling, cannonballing at the Chevron; the next, your eyes are wide and you are belly-flopping out of the KPMG. The only common thread: It makes a loud splash.
“Just got to know I’ve been through this a bunch of times,” Korda said before the KPMG. “I haven’t just gone through it; I’ve seen a bunch of different athletes go through it as well. My brother [Sebastian, ranked No. 23 in the world in tennis], my sister [Jessica, an LPGA champion] ... I’ve seen a lot of first-hand rollercoasters happen in people’s careers.”
It is a humbling lesson for a 25-year-old star raised inside a family of world-class athletes (mom and dad were accomplished tennis pros). Nelly is special. Different.
“I think the thing that separates Nelly from a lot of really good players is that she has the heart,” said Juli Inkster, a seven-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member. “She wants to be No. 1; she wants the ball. Sometimes you can’t teach that. Sometimes I think you’re just born with it. She has it.”
But fighting through the valley is part and parcel of the contract with the devil all golfers must sign before entering. Some say it makes the good times that much better. Sure, you’ll win a few trophies, the contract states, but only if you sign on for those days when golf will kick you in the teeth.
“A lot went my way at the beginning part of the year,” said Korda, making a last attempt at reason before saying farewell to Sahalee. “And [I’m] just giving it back.”
Yes, The “Season of Nelly” is experiencing unforeseen technical difficulties. With two more majors, the Olympic Games in Paris (she’s in and will be the defending gold medalist) and a Solheim Cup all on tap in the coming months, she will be back at her craft soon.
Even before she struck her first tee shot at Sahalee, Korda was quoting the erudite British football mind, the great Ted Lasso: “You have to have short-term memory loss out here.”
Ah, yes, the memory of a goldfish. Now more than ever.
E-MAIL JEFF
Top: Nelly Korda has missed three consecutive cuts for the first time in her career.
Jorge Lemus, NurPhoto via Getty Images