Nelly Korda making a 10 on a Par 3 at the U.S. Women’s Open is a brutal watch, but it is nice to know that she is an actual human who occasionally hits bad golf shots.
Overwhelming favorite Nelly Korda shockingly records a septuple-bogey
byNewsroom
Golf can be an unforgiving sport, even for the world's best players.
This was evident during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club, where Nelly Korda, the World No. 1, experienced a shocking turn of events.
Known for her consistent and dominant performances, Korda made an unprecedented septuple-bogey on her third hole, ultimately carding a 10-over 80.
Korda's struggles began early in her round. Starting on the back nine, she made a bogey on the par-4 10th hole and a par on the par-4 11th. The par-3 12th hole, however, marked the beginning of her downfall. Korda's tee shot overshot the green and landed in a bunker.
Her next shot went past the pin and into a pond. In an attempt to recover, Korda's subsequent shots also found the water hazard. It wasn't until her eighth shot that she finally reached the green, ultimately needing two putts to finish with a 10, a septuple-bogey.
This disastrous hole set the tone for the rest of her round. Korda made two more bogeys on her front nine, finishing with a 10-over 45. Despite a commendable effort on her back nine, where she managed three birdies, Korda also recorded three additional bogeys, culminating in a 10-over 80 for the round.
Her performance placed her tied for 105th among the 111 players who teed off, a staggering 11 shots behind the co-leaders, Adela Cernousek and Wichanee Meechai.
Korda's 10-over 80 is tied for her worst career score on the LPGA Tour, according to Justin Ray of The Athletic.
For a player who has dominated the LPGA this season, winning six out of her seven starts leading up to the U.S. Women's Open, this round was a startling deviation from her usual form. Korda leads the LPGA in scoring average (69.26), rounds in the 60s (20), and greens in regulation (75.9 percent).
Her form this year has been comparable to Scottie Scheffler's dominance on the PGA Tour, if not more impressive.
Entering the U.S. Women's Open, Korda was the overwhelming favorite with odds of +330 to win her second consecutive major championship.
Her early exit from contention serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of golf. Even the most skilled players are not immune to the occasional catastrophic round.
Despite the setback, Korda's resilience and talent cannot be discounted. While it may take a near-miracle for her to climb back into contention, her ability to recover from such a disappointing start will be closely watched.
This round, though shocking, highlights the human aspect of professional golf and serves as a humbling reminder that even the best can falter.
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