Nelly Korda recorded one other sturdy spherical of golf Friday at St. Andrews for the AIG Girls’s Open. She signed for a bogey-free 4-under 68 spherical within the match.
Korda sits at 8-under total and holds a three-shot lead over her enjoying companions Lilia Vu and Charley Hull. They’re each at 5-under total.
The afternoon wave nonetheless has to play Spherical 2 of the Girls’s Open, however Korda set the tone in an enormous means.
Thursday noticed 40 mph winds for the sector, and Friday morning introduced the rain to St. Andrews for a short while. The wind returned for the final little bit of her spherical. Nonetheless, it gave Korda one other problem to beat and shoot a very good rating.
“Yesterday it was brutally windy all through the vary session till about most likely 16,” Korda stated. “Then right now, it was raining a very good bit throughout my vary session, after which it was up till most likely my second or third gap. It was fairly calm the entrance 9, after which as soon as we obtained to most likely — I feel 18 and No. 1 — that’s when it began pumping.”
Her group began on 10, and Korda made seven straight pars to begin her spherical. Korda birdied the seventeenth and 18th to show in 34 strokes. Two extra birdies got here on the par-5 fifth and par-4 ninth holes. That birdie on the final gave her the commanding three-shot benefit.
“I didn’t reap the benefits of the calmer circumstances on my entrance 9, the again 9, however I performed some actually strong golf, and I’m proud of that,” she stated.
Maintaining the scorecard clear in circumstances like these is kind of an achievement. Forward of the occasion, Korda switched up the flat stick, and it appears to be working thus far. She went from utilizing a Scotty Cameron mid-mallet to a full mallet.
“I put a brand new putter in, the Spider. I simply wanted to take a look at one thing totally different. It rolls properly. I’m more than happy with it. I’ve no grievance,” Korda stated.
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Picture by Morgan Harlow/R&A/R&A by way of Getty Photographs
The Florida resident isn’t any stranger to adapting in 2024. In her six LPGA victories, she received on so many several types of grasses that she is aware of easy methods to change issues up when she must.
After these previous two days, Korda seems like she has discovered her kind once more. Her sport seems nearer to 100% than anybody has seen from her shortly.
“I feel this 12 months, basically, I’ve received on so many kinds of grasses in several circumstances that you simply simply form of all the time should adapt,” she stated. “You’re all the time adapting to your conditions, and I feel that’s what’s so enjoyable about hyperlinks golf.
Korda holds the lead for now, however the afternoon waves doubtless scent blood within the water. Quite a lot of golf is left, however the 26-year-old will probably be in one of many last teams for Shifting Day at St. Andrews.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can too comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.