Nelly Korda storms back at Pelican for 7th win of the season

It’s still 2024, so Nelly Korda is still winning.

Korda, who entered this week with six wins on her resume so far this calendar year, added another trophy to the collection on Sunday as she fired a final-round 67 at Pelican Golf Club to win The Annika by three shots. The win puts her over $4 million in earnings for the 2024 season and leaves her just over $200,000 shy of the single-season LPGA record set by Lorena Ochoa in 2007.

At the beginning of the day, there was some doubt as to whether or not Korda would have enough in the tank to claim yet another title. Beginning the day one back of Charley Hull, Korda needed something special to catch the leader.

As she’s done so many times this season, Korda delivered.

After playing the front nine in two-over par, Korda caught fire on the back nine and recorded five-straight birdies on Nos. 11-15 to surge into the lead. After taking the lead, she never looked back.

“You should have felt the nerves that I was feeling on the back nine, and then just after taking some time off with an injury, it feels great to be back out here,” Korda said. “Nothing like being in the hunt, the adrenaline feeling on the back nine, and being in contention. I love it so much.”

With the win, Korda becomes the first player since 2011 to win seven or more titles in a season and adds to what has already been a historic Player of the Year campaign.

With a win in next week’s CME Group Tour Championship, it would make Korda the first player to eight victories in an LPGA season since Lorena Ochoa in 2007.

On Sunday, that seemed far from likely as she started poorly for the second straight day. She credited longtime caddie Jason McDede for helping jumpstart her back-nine 30, a theme she has echoed throughout the season.

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“Not a lot of happy thoughts at the beginning,” she said. “But, yeah, I mean, I have such a great teammate. [McDede] and I’ve been together for I think next year going on our ninth year. Having him by my side obviously helps because he knows what to say when I do get down on myself.”

Korda was also surprised on the 18th green by her brother, professional tennis player Sebastian Korda. While Korda’s parents have been mainstays outside the ropes this season, she said this was the first time Sebastian had seen her win in person.

“It’s pretty cool to watch her do her thing,” Sebastian Korda said. “She’s done so well this year; worked unbelievably hard. She’s gone through a lot of things and always comes back fighting and has just gotten back to work. That’s one of the most things I admire about her is just how hard of a worker she is.”

This is also Korda’s first win this season since changing from the putter that won her first six titles earlier this year, including her second major at the Chevron Championship.

Before the AIG Women’s Open, Korda inserted a TaylorMade Spider Tour X with an L-neck and shorter sightline. She has kept it in the bag ever since, but due to injury, this is just the fourth event Korda has gamed the new flatstick, including the Solheim Cup.

Safe to say, it’s working.