By: Max Bechtoldt
When it rains it pours. Both the weather and the golf of Nelly Korda. On a soaking wet day in the Phoenix area, Korda won her third event in a row by two strokes.
Korda entered the day at -13, two strokes back of the leaders Carlota Ciganda, Sarah Schmelzel and Hyo Joo Kim. The board was loaded, with 15 players within two strokes. The cream rose to the crop though, as the No. 1 player in the world had a dominant final round 65.
The back nine in particular was fantastic, as Korda showed off all parts of her game. Her Driver was working, her irons were terrific, she was getting up and down consistently and was hitting putts. Her decision-making was on full display as well, choosing to layup on the short par 4 16, a decision that was wise as she almost holed out for eagle. She finished up her round with a tap in birdie on the par 5 18 to get to -20.
Korda got help from her competitors though. Hyo Joo Kim had a shocking four-putt double bogey on the 11th hole. Lexi Thompson, who was also making a run, hooked a drive into the water on 16.
Finishing in second place, two strokes behind Korda was rookie Hira Naveed of Australia, who played stronger golf than anyone on the weekend. Making her first cut on the number she shot 65-66 on Saturday and Sunday.
For Korda, this was the third win in as many starts. She has won three of four tournaments she has played in on the 2024 season, she is the first to win three events in a row since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016.
