BELLEAIR, Fla. — Nelly Korda made a triumphant return to competitive golf, achieving remarkable success after a near two-month hiatus. Demonstrating her prowess, she carded five consecutive birdies on the back nine, finishing with a 3-under 67 to secure The Annika title, marking her seventh victory on the LPGA Tour this season.
Korda faced challenges initially, struggling to find her rhythm and making the turn at 2 over par, trailing two shots behind the leader, Charley Hull. However, a birdie on the 11th hole ignited her momentum, enabling her to maintain her impressive streak all the way to victory.
One unexpected highlight of the event was the presence of her younger brother, Sebastian Korda. Focused on his own tennis career, he had not been able to watch his sister compete until this weekend at Pelican Golf Club.
This remarkable win places Korda in esteemed company. Earlier in the season, she equalized an LPGA record with five straight tournament wins and is now the first player since Yani Tseng in 2011 to notch up seven victories in a single season. No American had achieved this milestone since Beth Daniel in 1990.
Notably, Korda has secured four of her wins this year while entering the final round in a trailing position.
Charley Hull, aiming for a wire-to-wire victory, struggled to match Korda’s remarkable golf performance. Following her successful win in Saudi Arabia just two weeks prior, Hull concluded her round at 1-over 71, tying for second along with LPGA newcomer Jin Hee Im (68) and Weiwei Zhang (70).
Zhang saw significant movement on the leaderboard, climbing 24 positions to No. 82 in the Race to CME Globe, thus ensuring her participation for the next season. The top 60 players qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship next week in Naples, where the champion will receive an impressive $4 million prize. Carlota Ciganda also made notable strides, rising three positions to grab the final qualifying spot.
Korda’s last competitive appearance was on September 22 in Ohio. She had intended to participate in two events during the Asian swing but had to withdraw due to a minor neck injury. She expressed eagerness to return for Pelican, a site where she had previously enjoyed significant success.
“Coming back after some time off due to injury feels incredible,” Korda remarked. “There’s nothing quite like the thrill of being in the hunt, feeling the adrenaline on the back nine, and competing. I truly relish every moment of it.”
This victory has propelled her earnings for the year to over $4 million, with the potential for even greater financial rewards if she can clinch another win next week at Tiburon Golf Club. At this stage, the rankings will have no bearing on the season finale, as all 60 participating players will have equal opportunity at one of the most significant prizes in women’s sports.