Korda, Zhang look to answer questions in Jersey
Paige Mackenzie offers her thoughts on Rose Zhang's recovery from a lingering neck injury and Nelly Korda's attempt to defend her title at the Mizuho Americas Open.
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Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nelly Korda hoping patience pays off in quest to recapture the magic
Nelly Korda is preaching patience, but acknowledges that might be difficult for those admirers of the 'best swing in golf' who recall the American knocking off consecutive titles last year at record-breaking pace. Of course, it was unfeasible for Korda to maintain a run that brought her five successive tournament wins – including a major – and then proceed to make it six trophies from seven. Yet when Korda triumphed at the Mizuho Americas Open last May – the female game's superstar adding to her iconic image by raising her arms aloft with the New York City skyline and Statue of Liberty in the background – few would have predicted that there would only be one more success in the 12 months and 19 starts that followed. Going into this week's US Women's Open, the 26-year-old remains the world No 1, but it perhaps says plenty about the injection of realism into her story that Korda's status is under threat from Jeeno Thitikul. With two victories already this season, and three in her last nine appearances, the 22-year-old Thai has actually usurped Korda as the betting favourite for the major at Erin Hills – an achievement in itself. But Korda insists she remains unfazed. 'I can understand what people say, but this is just the game of golf and it's life and it's up and down,' Korda said at the Wisconsin course. 'Look, it's never going to be easy, and when you think you kind of have it figured out, it's just going to humble you really quickly. 'The thing is just always stay patient, keep doing what you're doing. What I've learnt is that I'm going to control what I can control. And what I can't? Well, I'm kind of going to let go of that and not stress about it and just go about my business. 'Look, last year was last year. What I achieved in 2024, no one can take that from me. That's always going to be such a great memory. But it's been a campaign and a fresh mindset. 'It's been a very interesting year for me. I definitely have had a bit of good and a bit of bad. I've kind of been in the mix in every event that I've played in.' Korda is wise not to panic, as she has the lowest scoring average on tour so far in 2025 and her form has hardly gone through the clubhouse floorboards. And even her dream season was not without its setbacks. After a two-month absence with neck issues that led to debilitating migraines, Korda returned in November and won in Florida. Since then she has racked up four top-seven placings in her most recent eight competitions, including a fifth behind Thitikul three weeks ago. Yet, despite finishing 14th in her defence at the Chevron Championship, the season's first major, last month, she was never in serious contention and her record at the US Women's Open certainly does not inspire great hope. Korda has played in her national championship on 10 occasions and only recorded two top-10s, with a best performance of eighth. She was seemingly at the peak of her powers last year, but shockingly shot a first-round 80 at Lancaster Country Club and comfortably missed the cut. It was the third time she had failed to qualify for the weekend in the last five editions of the US Women's Open. Considering the piles of garlands she has collected from other events, she would be forgiven for a feeling of indifference, but Korda was putting on a courageous and positive front as she prepared for a marquee first-round threeball on Thursday, also featuring countrywoman Lexi Thompson and England's Charley Hull. 'Yeah, it's tested me a lot over the years – but, I mean, it's the biggest test in the game and I love it,' she said. 'At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do, is to play these golf courses in these conditions, to test our games in every aspect. Not even just our games, but the mental side, as well. I enjoy it and I'm excited to see what this week is going to bring.' And Korda claims the expectations will not be a problem. 'Every year something has challenged me, and every year I learn a little bit more about myself and how to handle myself in certain situations,' she said. 'It's all about putting yourself into that position and being grateful for being in that spot. And relish it all. Even the pressure.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nelly Korda preaching patience as she seeks her first title of the year at US Women's Open
Nelly Korda reacts after finishing on the 18th green during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) ERIN, Wis. (AP) — Nelly Korda says she has learned the value of patience during a season in which titles haven't come as easily as they did for her a year earlier. That trait is particularly important this week at the U.S. Women's Open, a tournament that hasn't been kind to the world's top-ranked player. Korda never has finished higher than a tie for eighth and has missed the cut three of the last five years. Advertisement That history provides plenty of incentive for Korda as she heads into the U.S. Women's Open starting Thursday at Erin Hills. She is seeking her first title of the season. 'I mean, it's the biggest test in golf,' Korda said. 'It definitely has tested me a lot. I love it. At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do, is to play these golf courses in these conditions, to test our games in every aspect.' Korda, 26, understands that challenge all too well. Last year, she entered the U.S. Women's Open having won six of her last seven events, then fell out of contention early. She posted a 10 on her third hole of the tournament, carded an 80 in the opening round and missed the cut at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club. Advertisement Her average score of 68.88 leads all LPGA competitors, but her lack of titles this year is notable after a spectacular 2024 season in which she won seven times in 16 starts. She won five straight events at one point last year, tying a record she now shares with Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam. 'It's been a very interesting year for me,' Korda said. 'I definitely have had a bit of good and a bit of bad. Kind of a mix in kind of every event that I've played in. I would say just patience is what I've learned, and kind of going back home and really locking in and practicing hard.' Korda's lack of championships reflects the balance in women's golf this year, as the LPGA Tour hasn't had a single player win multiple titles through its first 12 events of the season. Korda will seek a breakthrough this week at Erin Hills, a 6,829-yard, par-72 course located less than 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Milwaukee. Erin Hills' relative lack of trees can make the course particularly difficult on windy days. Advertisement 'Weather plays a pretty big role out here, especially with kind of no coverage, no trees to block it. It's kind of a very big open field,' Korda said. 'When it gets windy out here, it's really going to play with your golf ball. It's just kind of seeing what the day has in store and having a game plan for it.' What's at stake The 80th U.S. Women's Open has a $12 million purse, with the winner earning $2.4 million. That makes it the most lucrative event of the women's golf season. Saso seeks third title Yuka Saso is the defending champion and the first person to win titles representing two countries. Saso represented the Philippines for her 2021 title and represented Japan last year. Her mother is Filipina and her dad is Japanese. Advertisement Those U.S. Women's Open championships are Saso's only career LPGA Tour titles. She tried to explain this week why she plays her best on this stage. 'I think it's so difficult that I have no time to relax, which I think makes me focus deeper,' Saso said. 'I think that helps.' Watch out for wind Erin Hills was a rather forgiving course when the U.S. Open came here in 2017 and Brooks Koepka won at 16-under par to tie the tournament record. The relative lack of wind that week led to low scores. 'Let's face it,' said Shannon Rouillard, the United States Golf Association's senior director of championships. 'The 2017 U.S. Open didn't play how we had hoped it to play because Mother Nature didn't show up.' Advertisement Rouillard believes this week should be different. 'Will Mother Nature show up?' Rouillard said. 'Right now she's telling us she's going to show up. That will play a major component into our overall setup plan.' Ko's video scouting Lydia Ko took an unusual approach to preparing for Erin Hills. The world's third-ranked player went on YouTube to watch golf pros Wesley Bryan and George Bryan and YouTube content creator Grant Horvat tackle the course. The Bryan brothers put videos of themselves playing various courses on their Bryan Bros Golf YouTube channel. 'I got into YouTube golf because of my husband, and I won't be shy to say I watch it on my own now,' Ko said. 'It's probably not the preparation that many of the other players did, but it was just a good way for me to kind of see the golf course.' ___ AP golf:
USA Today
11-05-2025
- USA Today
Jeeno Thitikul laps top-ranked Nelly Korda in Mizuho Americas victory at Liberty National
Jeeno Thitikul laps top-ranked Nelly Korda in Mizuho Americas victory at Liberty National The final round of the Mizuho Americas Open was shaped up to be a shootout between the top two players in the world. In the end, world No. 1 Nelly Korda, the event's defending champion, didn't give Jeeno Thitikul much to worry about. Thitikul lapped the field by four strokes after carding a bogey-free 69 in the final round. Korda closed with a 1-over 73 to finish six strokes back. Now a five-time winner on tour, the young Thai star earned $450,000 for her rock-solid efforts. "I mean, bogey-free on the final round, final group, as well, because the pin positions were so tough today," said Thitikul. "We got a lot of wind, and then a lot of nerves and excitement for sure. "I just really told myself to be patient out there." Thitikul, 22, has finished outside the top 10 twice in eight starts, including a share of 12th at the Blue Bay LPGA and a share of 24th at the Chevron Championship. Thitikul said the near missed cut at the season's first major served as a bit of a wake-up call. She was particularly frustrated on the greens in Texas. "I just think Chevron had really tough pin positions and tough greens and then the line, as well," said Thitikul. "Last week I just went back home in Dallas and working on it a little bit to matching the speed and the line. But I know I have been doing stroking-wise really good, so I just tried to keep it on track." Aphrodite Deng wins AJGA's Mizuho Americas Open junior event The highlight, she said, was playing alongside Korda for two rounds. The junior girls played a Stableford format alongside the pros at Liberty National. "She motivated me," said Deng. "When she made a putt, I tried to make it, too." Boutier finished solo second while Andrea Lee tied for third with Carlota Ciganda. Lee, a former top-ranked amateur, was impressed by Deng's game. "I think she's only like 15 years old, so it makes me feel extremely old," said Lee. "But yeah, she actually bombs it for her size. She hits really long drives off the tee and really good short game, really good putter. I think she has a really bright future ahead of her." Mizuho Americas Open has star-studded list of winners This marked the third playing of the Mizuho event, hosted by Michelle Wie West, and it has quickly become one of the premiere events on the LPGA schedule. Rose Zhang won the first edition in her LPGA professional debut followed by Korda in 2024 and now, Thitikul, who played alongside Mizuho CEO Jerry Rizzieri during the pro-am earlier in the week. "Getting ferries on and off the course from the hotel is so cool," said Thitikul of the event's official transportation. "We don't have any tournaments that we're going to jump on the ferry at all. Also, definitely New York food, New York cheesecake, New York pizza. I'll just get fat now. "But everyone is just liking this experience. Jerry just said I hope all the top players come here every year. I was telling him, definitely, no worries, all the players coming here because we love here."
