Nelly Korda Reflects on Challenging Day at U.S. Women's Open
Nelly Korda experienced a challenging day on the golf course at Lancaster Country Club, carding a 10-over 80, her highest round ever in an LPGA event. The round was a stark deviation from the high standards the talented golfer has set in her career, leaving her reflecting on the difficult day and acknowledging the uphill battle she now faces in contending for her third major championship title at this event.
Stumbling Start
From the get-go, it was evident that the day might not unfold as Korda would have hoped. A bogey on her first hole was a harbinger of the struggles to come. However, it was at a par-3 where the day truly spiraled. Korda encountered significant trouble, with multiple shots finding the water, ultimately leading to a score of 10 on the hole. This setback was a significant contributor to her finishing 9 over for the day. Despite a slight improvement towards the end, she finalized her score at a disappointing 10-over 80.
Reflections on a Tough Round
Post-round, Korda was candid about her performance and the reality of her situation. "Not a lot of positive thoughts, honestly," she confessed. Korda pointed to her difficulties in maintaining control of her game, finding herself navigating the rough with far more frequency than she would have liked. "I didn’t hit it good. I found myself in the rough a lot," she said, encapsulating the root of her struggles throughout the round.
The debacle on the par-3 was, in her own words, especially detrimental. "Making a 10 on a par-3 will definitely not do you any good at a U.S. Open," Korda remarked, noting the impact such a score can have on one's overall performance in a tournament renowned for its demand for precision and patience.
Yet, it wasn't all despair for Korda. She highlighted a semblance of recovery towards the latter stages of her round. "I started off really poorly but played pretty well on the back nine," she acknowledged, finding solace in the small victories on a day dominated by challenges.
Despite the hardships, Korda's determination to prevent the day from worsening was evident. "Yeah, I just didn’t really want to shoot 80, and I just kept making bogeys," she recalled. It was a testament to her resilience, even when the favorable outcomes seemed increasingly out of reach.
Comparing Past Performances
Reflecting on her recent history at the U.S. Women's Opens, Korda conceded that her last two rounds had not met her expectations. "My last two rounds in the U.S. Women’s Open have not been good," she admitted. Her 80 at Lancaster followed an 81 at Pebble Beach, marking a troubling trend in majors that demand the utmost in skill and mental fortitude.
Resilience in Adversity
Despite the discouraging day, Korda remained philosophical and resilient. She embraced the reality of professional sports — that not every day can be a victory and bad days are part and parcel of the journey. "I’m human. I’m going to have bad days. I played some really solid golf up to this point. Today was just a bad day. That's all I can say," she reflected.
The path forward for Korda involves looking ahead to the next round with the hope of significantly improving her score and positioning herself to make the cut. It’s an uphill battle, but if anyone understands the ebbs and flows of golf and the capacity for turnaround, it’s Korda. The resilience she has shown in her career and her ability to stay focused on the future, rather than dwell on a difficult day, will be pivotal as she looks to rebound in one of the most challenging tournaments in women’s golf.
Korda's experience at Lancaster Country Club serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and rigor of the sport. Yet, it also highlights the resilience and determination that define the world's best athletes. For Korda, a day to forget becomes a stepping stone for future successes, a chance to learn, adapt, and return stronger.
