Nelly Korda’s stunning 10-stroke loss on Thursday shocked the golf world but also dashed her dreams of winning a second consecutive major championship.
Korda made seven bogeys on the par-3 12th hole to fall to eight-over par after three holes, a deficit too big to recover from. Korda shot a 10-over 80 on Thursday and an even-par 70 on Friday to miss the cut in the U.S. Women’s Open by three strokes.
But in stark contrast to Thursday, the highlight of Korda’s round on Friday came on the now-infamous 12th hole.
Korda hit his tee shot just short of the green, the ball rolled downhill with only the stream in sight, but somehow his shot landed in the rough just short of the water and the ball couldn’t get back into the stream.
Nelly Korda rolled a 10 on a par-3 to shoot 80 yesterday at the U.S. Women’s Open, and today, struggling to make the cut, she again nearly dropped her ball in the water on the same hole.
Maybe the golf gods are watching out for her today? pic.twitter.com/VrC9KeREdW
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 31, 2024
Fred Couples had a similar experience on the 12th hole at Augusta National in 1992, when he won his only major championship: His ball came to rest just short of Rae’s Creek and he went up and down for par.
Like Couples back then, Korda played up and down on Friday to save par. 25 ft drainage After the putt dropped, Korda threw her arms wildly and appeared to mutter “Damn it,” which perfectly summed up her feelings on the 12th hole.
I absolutely love this “tribute” to the 12th hole by Korda after saving par. I’ve had the same experience (although I’ve never made par). pic.twitter.com/f9BU5uLsyV
— Shane Ryan (Trusted) (@ShaneRyanHere) May 31, 2024
But unlike Couples, Korda won’t be winning this week — instead, he’ll be heading home early.
Korda last missed the cut a year ago at the KPMG Ladies PGA Championship at Baltusrol, an impressive winning streak for the world’s top player. Since then, Korda has reeled off six straight wins, including a record-tying five in a row, all of which came in 2024. Her last win came two weeks ago at Liberty National, where she won the Mizuho Americas Open.
Still, even if Korda had made a double bogey on the 12th hole Thursday, he would have been comfortable playing the weekend.
Still, golf is a funny game, and many would describe it in the words Korda used on the 12th green, which, of course, perfectly described her 2024 U.S. Women’s Open.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
