Three consecutive missed cuts. The joint-highest round of her professional career. Nelly Korda is out of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The World No 1 started the second day at the third women’s major of the year just a shot behind overnight leader, and compatriot, Lexi Thompson.
However, a catastrophe of errors among the tight and narrow fairways of Sahalee Country Club saw the American slowly drop back – eventually falling back far enough to miss the cut for the second major in succession.
Unsurprisingly, Korda was visibly upset as she came to the end of her round, and only answered a couple of questions.
“It’s just golf recently for me. No words for how I’m playing right now. I’m just going to go home and try to reset,” she explained after her second round.
“I just feel like that’s been my last three events, just nothing is really… A lot went my way at the beginning part of the year, and just giving it back.”
Where did it all go wrong for Korda on Friday?
Unlike at the US Women’s Open, where Korda made a 10 in just her third hole of the tournament, her second round demise at Sahalee was much more prolonged.
Within her opening six holes, she had missed two par putts from inside five feet and topped a shot. Sounds like me in a normal Saturday medal competition!
Unlike me though, this comes as a huge surprise following her successes at the start of the year. By the 14th hole on Friday afternoon, the American was sitting on the cut line.
It was the 15th where it all went horribly wrong, though. Four straight pars to finish her round would have been good enough for the World No 1 to make the weekend.
Her second shot on the par 4 ended up no more than a couple of feet past the out of bounds line, with Korda having to jump on a buggy to go back and play what would become her fourth shot. That led to a double bogey, all but killing her chances of making the weekend.
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She almost did the impossible, with her bunker shot on the 18th finishing just a foot from the hole for what would have been the eagle she needed to hit the mark. Unfortunately for Korda, a birdie was not enough and she would finish at 6-over-par, one stroke outside the line.
Just to put how surprising this collapse was into perspective…
- 81 ties the worst round of her professional career (third of her career)
- It’s the first time Korda has ever missed three consecutive cuts (US Women’s, Meijer LPGA Classic, Women’s PGA)
- Her Strokes Gained: Total on Friday was -6.15
As a side note, t’s been a decade since the last time she shot an 81… The others came when she was just 13 at the US Women’s Open in 2013, and then a couple of years later at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Let’s not forget that these struggles have come after Korda put together an incredible run of winning five events on the bounce earlier this season.
The LPGA Drive On Championship, FIR Hills Seri Pak Championship, Ford Championship presented by KCC and T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards were all secured. The fifth piece in her 2024 trophy cabinet was also her second major – the Chevron Championship.
Not content with just five, a few weeks later, Korda went on to win the Mizuho Americas Open as well, but that will feel a long time ago for the American as her struggled continue.
Which other stars failed to make the cut at the Women’s PGA?
Korda was certainly the biggest of names to fail to make the weekend at this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
However, she wasn’t the only former champion to miss the cut. Anna Nordqvist, Sei Young Kim, Danielle Kang, Cristie Kerr and Yani Tseng will all make the trip home after just two round in Sammamish.
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Solheim Cup stars Carlota Ciganda and Gemma Dryburgh were also among those not making the cut at the third women’s major of 2024.
At the other end of the leaderboard, it is American Sarah Schmelzel and South Korea’s Amy Yang that lead the way. They sit at 6-under at the halfway stage, two clear of Hinako Shibuno, Jin Young Ko and round one leader Lexi Thompson.
- NOW READ: Women’s PGA Championship Round Three Tee Times
- NOW READ: LPGA Tour 2024 schedule
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