Nelly Korda Shines with 2‑Under 70 at Women’s PGA

Nelly Korda opened the Women’s PGA Championship with a 2‑under 70 on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Hazeltine National Golf Club, drawing cheers from a young fan squad and shrugging off a costly double‑bogey on the 16th.

Korda’s round began with a string of birdies that put her three strokes under par through five holes. A mis‑hit on the 16th sent her ball into a creek, forcing a penalty and a double‑bogey. She recovered on the 18th, sinking a 19‑foot putt that stopped just an inch from the cup before tapping in for par. The round left her tied for 19th, seven strokes behind leader Ina Yoon, who posted a tournament‑record‑tying 63.

As Korda walked to the first tee, a group of girls handed her custom jerseys bearing her name above the number 13. "It was a cute surprise after a few holes when I noticed them," she said, noting the posters that read “Go, Nelly, go.” The support marked a first for Korda at a major tournament, highlighting her growing role as the face of women’s golf.

The 27‑year‑old remains the LPGA Tour leader midway through the season, with four wins and three runner‑up finishes in eight starts. A victory at the Women’s PGA would give her enough points to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, joining legends Inbee Park and Babe Zaharias as the only women to win the first three majors in a calendar year.

Korda will need to navigate Hazeltine’s tricky 16th tee, where wind and water combine to punish wayward swings. Her recent double‑bogey showed how quickly a round can shift, but her confidence after a recent U.S. Women’s Open win suggests she can rebound. "It’s definitely a confidence boost," she said, adding that each tournament feels different based on course and feel.

Ina Yoon surged ahead with a 63, setting a new tournament record. The field includes past major champions and rising stars, all eyeing the chance to dethrone the world‑number‑one. Korda’s next round will determine whether she can close the seven‑stroke gap or settle for another top‑20 finish.

Beyond the immediate leaderboard, a win would secure Hall of Fame points and cement Korda’s place in golf history. Even without a victory, her interaction with fans and steady play reinforce her status as a role model for the next generation of golfers.

The tournament continues through Sunday, with the final round set for a dramatic finish at Hazeltine’s iconic 18th hole.