Nelly Korda gave a lesson this Thursday in the first round of the US Women’s Open. Her golf was not up to her usual standard, but her attitude was outstanding. At the worst, which is when you can best assess the reaction of a great champion. She made 80 strokes and a septuple bogey (10) on a par 3, hole 12, the third of her account on the day. A disaster no matter how you look at it. The world’s Number One knew where all the questions were going to go and still had no problem sitting in front of the media and answering whatever was necessary. The youngest of the Kordas showed greatness, humility, and honesty. “What do you want me to tell you, that I’m human and I’m going to have bad days. Today was one of them,” she summed up without drama.
Korda did not want to make any excuses for what happened on hole 12, although she did explain that they were waiting on the tee between 25 and 30 minutes and that what she saw there influenced her. “I was between a 7 and a 6 iron. I wasn’t quite sure what shot to give. Sometimes it’s not very good to see the girls play in front of you because two of them -Gaby López- fell short in the water and I think Ingrid went into the water. I stood a little further back from the tee and hit the 6. It penetrated quickly through the wind and went to the bunker at the back,” clarifies the American.
She also didn’t have much luck in the shot from the sand. She had the whole green ahead, the flag at the back and water behind. The ball was resting on a leaf and when she hit it, it shot out. “I couldn’t do much about it, but then the one who hit the chips so badly was me. Over and over again…”, she pointed out self-critically.
Nelly affirms that she tried to recover after the debacle, but she was not able. “The goal was to stop making bogeys and, of course, not to reach 80 strokes, but it was as it was. My last two rounds at the US Women’s Open have not been good,” she admitted. She made 80 to finish last year at Pebble Beach and another 80 to start in Lancaster. These are her two worst rounds ever as a professional. “It was a bad day, that’s all I can say,” she insisted.
Korda did not shy away from sharing her feelings. Although she did not refer to her future in the tournament, she is very clear that victory is now almost impossible. “Right now I don’t have many positive thoughts, honestly. I didn’t play well. I didn’t hit well. Too much rough and making a 10 on a par 3 is not ideal in a US Open. I’ll stick with the last nine holes (par round), where I played pretty well, in any case a bad day at the office,” she concluded.
Korda plays this afternoon with a beautiful challenge ahead. First to make the cut and then to show if she is capable of re-engaging in the tournament. Her first round has been a disaster, but it’s really only twelve strokes difference with the lead. Many, yes, but not insurmountable. If she manages to make three rounds under par, the top 10 is sure and let’s see where she ends up…
