Nelly Korda, the world’s top-ranked golfer, experienced a difficult start at the Amundi Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France. Her performance in the opening round has put her aspirations for a career Grand Slam and entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame under pressure.
Korda recorded a three-over 74 at the Evian Resort Golf Club. This score places her 11 shots behind Aki Iwai of Japan, who completed her round with an eight-under 63 on Thursday. Korda is currently at risk of missing the cut, which would be her first missed cut of the current season.
Earlier in the season, Korda secured victories in the first two majors: the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open. Her attempt to win the first three majors of the season concluded at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she finished tied for eighth place. This season, Korda has won four tournaments and achieved nine top-10 finishes, indicating a period of strong play.
Korda’s perspective on the Evian course
Following her opening round, Korda chose not to discuss her performance through a tour representative. While she has not explicitly stated a dislike for the Evian course, her comments in pre-tournament interviews suggest a complex relationship with it. She remarked, “I don’t know. It’s Evian. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Korda further elaborated on her experiences at the venue, noting, “I’ve hit some really good shots and ended up in some really bad places and hit some bad places and ended up in good places.” She also highlighted the learning curve associated with the course, stating, “What I learned every year is that patience is key out here. I’m still figuring it out. Like it’s Year 10. Every year I learn something new about this place. So, yeah, it’s just Evian.”
In contrast to Korda’s sentiments, Aki Iwai expressed an affinity for the course, commenting, “I like the course. It’s kind of like Japanese courses.”
Upcoming schedule and player preparations
Nelly Korda has not yet won either of the two overseas majors. The LPGA schedule includes three majors within a six-week period. After the current event, the LPGA will have a week off before proceeding to the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open and the AIG Women’s British Open.
When asked about managing the demanding schedule, Korda emphasized the importance of rest and recovery. She stated, “Trying to prioritise sleep and rest. It’s a lot, definitely. The scheduling of three majors in a short amount of time is definitely a lot mentally and physically, and with it being that a week and a half ago we were in Minnesota and then this week we’re in France, and then kind of travelling all over, it can get to be a lot.”
She added, “Making sure that you’re prioritising your body, your rest, and not overdoing it. Just when you kind of think you need to go to the gym maybe or wanting to rest, I think that at this point in the season, sometimes resting is actually more beneficial.”
Meanwhile, Brooke Henderson of Canada is participating in the Amundi Evian Championship with a positive outlook. This marks her best major result in over two years, and she previously won this event in 2022. Henderson is reportedly feeling content and playing well as she competes in the fourth of five majors on the calendar.
Korda’s performance in the second round will be crucial to avoid an unintended break this weekend.
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Source: golfdigestme.com
