Nelly Korda Falters at Evian Championship, Faces Grand Slam Pressure

**Nelly Korda** opened the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship with a three‑over 74 on the first day, dropping to a tie for 100th place and sitting 11 shots behind leader Aki Iwai’s eight‑under 63.

Korda started on the back nine, birdied the 12th, then bogeyed the 18th to finish the front half at even par. The front nine proved tougher: a double‑bogey on the 1st, followed by bogeys on the 4th and 5th, left her three over after nine holes. A late birdie on the 9th couldn’t erase the damage, and she closed the round at 74.

Statistically, her driving was solid-she hit 11 of 13 fairways and averaged 276 yards. The issue lay on the greens: she hit only 13 of 18 greens in regulation, and her putting faltered. The same putting slump that haunted her at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship resurfaced, turning potential birdies into costly bogeys.

The Evian is the fourth major of 2026, and a win would complete Korda’s career Grand Slam and secure her LPGA Hall of Fame eligibility. The opening round pressure appears to have taken a toll; odds that were 4/1 pre‑tournament have already drifted to 50/1. She remains 11 strokes off the lead, making a comeback unlikely without a dramatic turnaround.

Korda acknowledged the course’s fickle nature in a pre‑event press conference, noting that “good shots can end up in the wrong areas.” She later tried to downplay the pressure, saying she’s proud to be in contention. The next round will test whether she can rebound from a rough start, improve her putting, and keep her Grand Slam hopes alive.

Japan’s Aki Iwai set the pace with an eight‑under 63, establishing a lead that Korda now trails by 11 shots. Several players are still on the course, but the leaderboard suggests a steep climb for the world No. 1.

Earlier in the season, Korda posted rounds of 70 and 68 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, finishing tied for eighth. Her strokes‑gained putting numbers dropped sharply in the later rounds, mirroring the decline seen at Evian. The pattern underscores a recurring vulnerability that rivals may exploit.

Bookmakers reacted quickly, moving Korda’s odds from 4/1 to 50/1 after the opening round. The shift reflects both the widened gap to the leader and the uncertainty surrounding her ability to recover.

With a three‑over 74, Korda sits near the cut line. She must post a significantly lower score in the next round to stay in the tournament and keep her Grand Slam dream alive.