Nelly Korda, Charley Hull and Lilia Vu must really enjoy each other’s company. It was certainly an eye-catching group for the first two days of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews – the World No. 1, the charismatic home favourite, and the defending champion.
And the trio put on a show at the Old Course. When you delve into their numbers a little, you start to realise just how good they’ve been.
Midway through the second day, Korda, Hull, and Vu sat first, second and third on the leaderboard. When was the last time that happened?
Their combined scores added up to an incredible 18-under-par, given the brutal wind that has swept through over the first two rounds.
Korda signed for two 68s, Hull shot 67, 72, and Vu recorded 69 and 70 as they sit at -8, -5 and -5 at the halfway stage.
But taking the low score from the threesome on each hole, however, those numbers look even more impressive. This is quite the best ball combination!
Just how good were Korda, Hull and Vu over the first two days at St Andrews?
Their round one best ball reads: 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3 – 31; 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 3, 3, 3, 3 – 30 = 61.
While round two follows: 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3 – 32; 4, 3, 3, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3 – 33 = 65.
Given we’ve had gusts up to 40mph, and a tough sidewind, it’s not too shabby! 18 birdies, no bogeys and only two 5s in 36 holes. They were both on the par 5 14th too.
“I think I’m more adapted to the mindset of literally just taking it a shot at a time, not thinking ahead of myself and trusting my lines a lot,” said Korda about the challenge, following a bogey free second round.
“You’re literally hitting slingers in. I hit a hybrid 150 yards today on hole No. 2, which that’s like my 200 club. It’s all about just trusting the process and trusting what you have in your hand.”
“Whatever it [the weather] throws at me, I’ll just adapt to it,” she added.
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“Am I three shots behind Nelly?” asked Hull. “Yeah, only three shots behind. That’s nothing going into the weekend especially on this golf course.”
Said Vu of her first two days: “I think I’m happiest with how I’ve been putting it to the hole. I think I’m giving myself a lot of chances for birdie, and that’s what you need out here.
“That’s the toughest part, just trying to play with the wind, not against it, and I’ve been trying to do that.”
With the three set to be in close proximity again, we may see even more fireworks on a sensational St Andrews Saturday.
Picture of Korda and Hull courtesy of the R&A
Now have your say
What did you make of the display of this power trio of Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu and Charley Hull? Let us know your thoughts with a comment on X.
