Nelly Korda’s chances of a second major in 2024 all but disappeared on her third hole of the US Women’s Open on Thursday.
Korda posted a 10 on the Par-3 No. 12 at Lancaster Country Club early in the first round. After hitting his first shot into the back bunker of the 161-yard hole, he hit his second shot into the creek that runs in front of the green.
Things got worse from there.
Korda had to cross the creek in front of the green to hit his fourth shot after taking his penalty stroke. He then shot into the creek. She proceeded to do the same with her sixth shot after another penalty from basically the same spot.
He took no chances lying seven on his third attempt to cross the creek and hit the ball nine feet from the pin behind the hole. Korda then two-putted from there for his 10th.
Korda entered the US Women’s Open with tears in her eyes. Korda, the top-ranked player in women’s golf, was the heavy favorite for the tournament after winning six of her last seven starts. After a five-tournament winning streak was snapped with a seventh-place finish at the Cognizant Founders Cup, Korda won a week later at the Mizuho Americas Open.
One of those six wins was a win at the Chevron Championship, the first major of the season on the LPGA Tour. Korda won the tournament by two strokes over Maja Stark, as both shot 69 in their final rounds.
Korda’s dominance made it easy to wonder if he could win a Grand Slam in a calendar year in 2024. However, that is highly unlikely to happen now. Korda was 8 over after 10 on the 12th thanks to a bogey on his first hole.
