oh! oh! oh! oh! oh!
Carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, world No. 1 player Nelly Korda won again on the LPGA Tour, making it his fifth straight victory.
She won twice at the Chevron Championship, her second major win of her career, and a victory she will never forget.
Only Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam have won five straight on the LPGA Tour, with Lopez winning in 1978 and Sorenstam matching that feat in 2005. Interestingly, Sorenstam’s fifth win came at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, now known as the Chevron Championship. Reason for sponsorship.
“I think the key is simplicity when we play,” Korda said.
“Honestly, we just take it one shot at a time. We set a game plan when we get to the golf course and work while staying within our own little bubble. So far it’s worked out. I think golf can get too complicated sometimes, but simplicity is the key.”
Korda started the day with seven holes remaining in the third round, the first since play was suspended due to inclement weather on Saturday. After 54 holes, she tied Brooke Henderson for the championship at 10 under. Both players entered the final round with a one-stroke lead over Heran Ryu.
But Korda, like most people, knows how to win.
He made his first birdie of the day on the third hole and took the lead for the first time. Another birdie followed on the par-3 fourth, but suddenly others stumbled around her. Corda led by three people.
Korda continued his waltz on the front nine and birdied the eighth.
But after hitting bogeys on the 11th and 15th holes, Korda felt a sense of unease creep in. On his drive on the 15th, there was a pond on the left side of the fairway, but he made a bogey and avoided further disaster.
“I was definitely starting to feel it on the back nine. The nerves just started,” Korda said.
“It’s Major. Lifting a big trophy is everything I’ve ever wanted since I was little. Like I said, now I can finally breathe and just enjoy the moment. Because I was really nervous. My stomach hurt.”
Korda managed to regain his composure by the time he reached the par-3 17th. I was about to aim for the ace..
She missed the birdie putt on the 17th, but by that point Korda had almost won the championship. She also birdied the 18th and closed out her marathon day with a final round 3-under 69, forever etching her name in the history books.
Like Scottie Scheffler on the PGA Tour, Korda took the golf world by storm thanks to his incredible play. But the entire sports world should recognize this amazing feat, as it should leave every sports fan gaping in awe.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
