Big Pickle podcast: Nelly Korda’s monster 2024 continues with sixth LPGA title in eight starts
Sure, LPGA purses are getting a little bigger so it makes sense that Nelly Korda would be posting a huge season in terms of earnings.
But this big?
With her sixth win in eight starts, Korda, who became the fastest player to reach $2 million in single-season earnings earlier this year, has now earned $2,943,708 in 2024 and $11,880,981 in her career.
Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols and Grant Boone of NBC Sports and the Golf Channel have plenty to say about Korda’s accomplishments in this week’s edition of the Big Pickle.
Click here to listen to this week’s audio-only episode:
Subscribe, comment and tell a friend. As the women’s game continues to gain momentum, “The Big Pickle” will be sure to keep you informed, enlightened and entertained on everything LPGA.
With her fifth straight victory, Nelly Korda ties the LPGA Tour record and wins the Chevron Championship, her second major.
On April 21, 2024, in The Woodlands, Texas, Nelly Korda of the US celebrates with the trophy she won at The Club at Carlton Woods. (AFP)
Nelly Korda was recuperating at home from a blood clot that necessitated surgery in 2022, and she could not have predicted the amazing run she’s had this season.
“Obviously, I was just more afraid for my health at that time,” the woman remarked. “Participating was somewhat neglected. I had absolutely no intention of competing. However, I believe that all of my difficult experiences and health scares have shaped who I am now.
Now that she’s fully recovered, Korda seems unstoppable. The top-ranked player in the world hasn’t lost a match since January, and she has now won two major championships.
With a two-stroke triumph in the Chevron Championship on Sunday, Korda carved her name in the LPGA Tour record books and won her fifth straight tournament.
Annika Sorenstam (2004–05) and Nancy Lopez (1978) are the only other players to have won five straight LPGA events before Korda. Her last significant triumph was at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2021.
“These past few weeks, it’s been an incredible feeling to know that I can go on this stretch and that I can have so much fun out here if I stay in my bubble and keep golf simple and let it flow,” the woman remarked.
Maja Stark of Sweden fired 69 in the final round, but Korda outlasted her with a 3-under 69 to go within one. On the par-5 18th hole, Korda continued to play aggressively, clearing the lake in front of the green with ease and setting himself up for a simple up-and-down birdie to win by two shots.
At Carlton Woods, her four-day total was 13-under 275.
Korda’s tee shot on the par-3 17th hole nearly made an ace; it landed in the air and hopped, landing within ten feet of the hole. To keep her two-shot advantage, she had to settle for par.
On the par-4 10th hole, Korda stunned the sizable audience that had watched her the entire day by chipping into the wind for a birdie and a four-stroke lead. After the ball rolled into the hole, the 25-year-old pumped her fist and raised her club above her head with one hand.
As she was given the trophy, her parents, Petr Korda, a former Australian Open tennis champion, and Regina Rajchrtova, grinned.
According to Petr Korda, “she had a difficult ’22 and ’23 in certain ways.” She spent a lot of effort into getting to where she is now, despite the fact that she did not win a tournament in 2023 and that certain events likely humbled her. She wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her dedication and hard work. Seeing it, I’m overjoyed.
Jessica, Korda’s older sister, is a six-time LPGA champion who is currently taking a sabbatical from the game following the birth of her first child.
From a purse of $7.9 million, Korda received $1.2 million in earnings, a substantial rise over the $5.2 million she received the previous year. Her career earnings now total $11,361,489, while her season earnings are $2,424,216.
Since 1988, winners have been jumping into Poppie’s Pond off the Mission Hills 18th green. Korda became the second person in Texas to accomplish this feat by cannonballing off a little dock into water with a brown tint. After winning this season, Lilia Vu, ranked second in the world, was the first to enter the water. Vu announced her withdrawal from the competition this year prior to the first round citing “severe discomfort” in her back during the warm-ups.
Korda announced she will be competing in the JM Eagle LA Championship in Los Angeles the following week, even though she was still shaking after her post-win plunge on Sunday. Then, she was questioned about her chances of being the first person to win six straight LPGA events.
She remarked, “I’m going to enjoy this right now and then I’ll think about that.” But yes, I’ve had a great time. Ideally, maintain the run. However, I’ve been incredibly appreciative to compete every week and win the five in a row as well.
Before rain stopped the RBC Heritage final round, Masters winner Scottie Scheffler was on his way to a fourth win in five starts. He felt compelled to inquire about Korda.
When we had the rain delay this afternoon, he said, “I was actually checking the scores.” “I’m really proud of her and thrilled for her. That is some very unique material. It has been enjoyable to see.
After finishing the final seven holes of the weather-postponed third round early on Sunday morning, Korda went into the final round one shot off the lead. The day was windy and unusually cold. She had been up since 4 a.m. to be ready for the conclusion of the third round, so she was exhausted after her huge victory.
She took the lead after making birdies on two of her first four holes. Lauren Coughlin closed the gap to two strokes with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, but four more holes separated her after bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes. She finished tied for third with Brooke Henderson after shooting a final-round 68.
Coughlin broke down in tears when talking about her finest major finish.
“Seeing all of the work I’ve put in, especially with my putting and my short game, especially showed off this week, is really cool,” the woman remarked.
After shooting a 64 in the third round to set the tournament’s scoring record since it moved from Mission Hills, California, to Texas last year, Henderson was tied with Korda for second place going into the final round. However, the 13-time LPGA champion from Canada—who has already won two majors—also struggled early in the final round, making double and bogie mistakes in the opening four holes.
South Korean Haeran Ryu led Korda by one going into the final round after shooting a bogey-free 67. However, the first two holes of the fourth round were bogeyed by the 2023 Rookie of the Year. She finished fifth after closing with a 74.
On the eighteenth hole, amateur Jasmine Koo, who is eighteen years old, offered an unexpected highlight. Her second attempt found its way back into play after bouncing off the advertising board in the sea. She shot 71 in the finish with a birdie.
