Nelly Korda grabs Chevron Championship lead, 36 holes from historical past

After Nelly Korda walked off the par-4 1st gap, you’d have thought her possibilities of holding the lead by day’s finish have been slim to none.

However her “by no means hand over” mentality got here by way of as soon as once more on Friday on the Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first main of the season.

“Yeah, began out with a double. That was enjoyable,” Korda mentioned.

“I hit two photographs out of the left fairway bunker. I simply didn’t catch it tremendous clear, and it didn’t truly hit the bunker lining, simply the grass, and bumped again in. Then I bounced again with a birdie and made a birdie on the next par-5.”

Korda’s opening six dropped her again to 2-under for the championship, however by the point she reached the fifth gap, she had already clawed her approach again to the place she started the day at 4-under.

“I didn’t really feel dangerous in any respect. Generally, while you begin to make errors, you simply don’t actually really feel assured, otherwise you don’t really feel that nice. However I simply informed myself that it’s the primary gap of the event immediately,” Korda mentioned of her begin.

“Despite the fact that I could have made a double, I needed to save lots of a bogey. There’s nonetheless a lot golf to be performed, and there’s nonetheless a superb little bit of gettable par-5s. In order that’s normally what I take into consideration, is simply the alternatives that I’ve forward.”

Korda took full benefit of the par-5s on Friday, enjoying them at 4-under par. Her solely two birdies on the again 9 got here on the thirteenth and 18th holes, each par-5s. She completed the day at 7-under after capturing a 3-under 69 and walked off the course with a one-shot lead.

“Hitting the green actually helps. I’ve simply been hitting the driving force very well, and, yeah, simply capitalizing on good drives,” Korda mentioned, explaining why she has had success on par-5s.

“Once you hit the green, I imply, I had a 5-iron in on this 18th gap, and on 8, I had a 6-iron in. So I’m simply hitting the driving force very well and precisely type of the place I need. I feel that’s key on par-5s.”

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photos

Korda arrived at The Chevron Championship having gained 4 straight tournaments. Her historic play has been otherworldly, however throughout that stretch, she has relied on an identical formulation that she used once more Friday: decimate the par-5s.

“I attempt to have a look at over each gap like a chance,” Korda added.

“If I’m persevering with to hit my driver the best way I do, I’ve some shorter golf equipment in in comparison with perhaps another ladies, so simply sticking to my course of.”

Most definitely, if Korda retains hitting it like she has off the tee, no person will catch her. She is now 36 holes from successful a fifth straight occasion, which solely Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez have ever achieved. A victory would put Korda in fairly good firm, as she would additionally choose up her second profession main championship.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.