AIG Women’s Open 2024: Nelly Korda impresses with second-round 68 to claim lead at St. Andrews
A fast start to 2024 could be matched by a fast finish for Nelly Korda at this week’s AIG Women’s Open. Having started the final major championship of the season with back-to-back rounds of 68, the world No. 1 enters the weekend at St. Andrews in complete control of the tournament in a week when control has been difficult.
When Korda left the course Friday morning at 8 under par, she found herself three strokes ahead of Lilia Vu and Charley Hull.
With gale force winds and persistent rain in the forecast at the Old Course, players were forced to contend with more than just major championship worries. Stingers, putts, fairway woods from 150 yards were all considered art, and creativity was not a bonus but a requirement for players over the course of two rounds.
“I think just this year in general, I’ve won on so many different grasses in different conditions that you’re always adapting,” Korda said. “It’s the same with tennis, it’s the same with life. You’re always adapting to the situation, and I think the fun part about links golf is you actually start 30 yards to the left of the target, and I’m not a fade player, but I’m hitting the fade really hard. I think it’s fun to hit those low drivers. I’m having fun, and I love playing links golf. Obviously, every year I play, I learn a little bit more about it.”
Korda has looked comfortable so far with just one bogey through her first 36 holes and nine birdies along the way. Her second foray around the Old Course began on the back nine and saw her take the lead with back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18 for the second day in a row.
Two more rounds on her scorecard in the second nine rounds were enough to extend her lead to three points as she seeks her second major title this season and third of her career.
After a historic start to her 2024 campaign, in which she won six of her first eight starts, including the Chevron Championship, her fifth straight victory at that point, Korda has cooled considerably. The major championships have been somewhat disappointing, as she opened with an 80 at the U.S. Women’s Open and closed with an 81 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship en route to missed cuts at both events.
Her gold medal defense in Paris looked promising until it was blown away when the American was knocked out of medal contention on the final day with a 75 at Le Golf National. A tumultuous week with big numbers, Korda has cleaned up her game since then. A new putter in the bag may take some of the credit, but most of it should go to the woman whose adaptability has gotten her to this point and could propel her to another major title on Sunday.
“I just try to stay focused and not think about anything else but one shot at a time,” Korda said. “And whatever golf and links golf throws at me, I’m going to take it head on.”
