By: Max Bechtoldt
Well, here we are at the end of the rankings of the first 10 LPGA Tour events of the season, and we have the first two wins in Nelly Korda’s incredible win streak. These are also the two events that went to a playoff, and the results were thrilling in both. Here are the top two events of the LPGA season so far:
No. 2 – The FIR Hills Seri Pak Championship – It is easy to forget that Nelly Korda wasn’t in the final group on Sunday at this event. Yes, she fell apart at the end of regulation, with bogeys on three of the last four holes, but that’s mostly because she handled the brutal wind better than anyone else. While Alison Lee and Jiyai Shin struggled mightily, especially on the back nine, Korda and Ryann O’Toole took advantage. O’Toole was out on the course early, shooting a final round 66 including one of the best up-and-downs of the season on 18. On the first playoff hole, both players set up makable looks for birdie, with O’Toole’s just missing, while Korda’s hit the bottom of the cup. The entire final round was unpredictable and thrilling, with the highest winds and scores of the weekend.
No. 1 – The LPGA Drive On Championship – It is really tough to put into words how crazy the final hour of this tournament was. To sum it up simply, Nelly Korda was on the 17 tee with a three-stroke deficit to Lydia Ko, who was already in the clubhouse, and won. Just a few minutes earlier, Ko had made eagle on the par 5 17, and looked like she would cruise to her second victory in a row, and the hall of fame. What Korda did down the stretch was special though, setting the tone for the LPGA Tour season, that Nelly Korda is inevitable. She knocked in a long putt for eagle on 17 and then almost hit her approach shot in on 18 for a walk-off win. Her birdie on 18 was just the second on the hole the entire day. On the second playoff hole, Ko had a brutal three putt which opened the door for Korda, which she in turn slammed close. This tournament was played in January, Korda has won every event she has played in since.
