Nelly Korda’s Rough Start: A Stunning 10 on One Hole at U.S. Women’s Open
Nelly Korda’s first round at the U.S. Women’s Open turned into a day she’d rather forget. The world’s number one golfer, known for her recent dominance, faced a nightmare on the par-3 12th hole at Lancaster Country Club, ultimately carding a shocking 10.
“Making a 10 on a par 3 will definitely not do you any good at a U.S. Open,” Korda remarked, describing the day as “just a bad day in the office.”
Korda, who entered the tournament as a heavy favorite with six victories in her last seven tournaments, struggled immensely. The trouble began on the 12th hole when her decision to use a 6-iron resulted in the ball landing in a bunker. What followed was a series of unfortunate shots, with three consecutive attempts rolling back into the water.
“I just didn’t really know what to hit,” Korda admitted, explaining that seeing other players struggle ahead of her didn’t help.
This disastrous hole set the tone for her round. Korda finished with a score of 80, putting her 12 shots behind the leaders. She faced further difficulties with missed short putts and errant tee shots, managing her first birdie only on her 12th hole. Despite the birdie, she couldn’t maintain momentum, finishing with several bogeys.
The challenging conditions at Lancaster Country Club, with strong winds and tough pin placements, added to the players’ woes. The 12th hole, in particular, caused significant delays and high scores for many in the field.
Reflecting on the round, Korda kept her perspective. “I’m human. I’m going to have bad days. I played some really solid golf up to this point. Today was just a bad day,” she said.
Korda now faces the challenge of performing exceptionally well in the next round to make the cut and keep her championship aspirations alive. Given her talent and determination, fans and analysts know she has the potential to bounce back strongly.