Washington (United States) (AFP) – Nelly Korda is chasing her third straight major at the Women’s PGA Championship, but the world number one says she won’t be focusing on her chance of the rare feat. “I’m just out here trying to play golf for sure,” Korda said Wednesday at Hazeltine, in Chaska, Minnesota. “I think I have a very in-the-moment mindset this year, which I’m just trying to take towards the end of the year.”
Only two women have won three straight major titles in a season: Babe Zaharias back in 1950 when the LPGA had just three majors, and South Korean star Park In-bee in 2013. Korda is an overwhelming favorite to join that elite club after piling up four wins already this season, including a five-stroke triumph in the Chevron Championship and a one-shot victory at the US Women’s Open.
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“No matter what happens, I’ve just told myself if I am lifting the trophy, like, that is obviously the main goal at the end of the week,” Korda said. “But I’m going to prepare or focus on my preparation and know that I’m 100% confident in it and lean on that.” Korda has eight top-three finishes in her last nine starts and is also just two qualifying points away from the 27 needed to earn entry to the LPGA Hall of Fame. That’s also something the 27-year-old American is choosing not to focus on.
“I know I’m close,” Korda said, but she hadn’t done the math to know a major win would secure her Hall of Fame place. “I don’t want to put extra pressure on myself,” she said. “The game of golf is hard enough.” After being shut out of the winner’s circle in 2025 — on the heels of a seven-win 2024 — Korda says she’s trying to have fun in her return to the spotlight.
In the wake of her long-coveted US Open triumph at Riviera in Los Angeles, she made a media tour that included NBC’s “Today” show in New York and a photo shoot in front of a giant digital billboard featuring her on the golf course. “I was having a lot of fun in New York,” she said, adding that this year she’s more at home with promotional work than she was in 2024. “I think the biggest change that I told myself I’m going to make is I’m just going to be authentic and be who I am,” she said. “Either that comes across great or it doesn’t, but I just want to be genuine.”
“It’s fun to be on a different stage in front of different people doing something that helps the game of golf and kind of puts us on a broader stage.” But she was already focusing on Hazeltine, where she expects a major championship set-up to put demands on “everything.” “This is very much so a placement golf course on the fairway and on the greens, so hopefully every part of my game is in top-top shape.”
Australian Minjee Lee is the defending champion, having captured her third major title in Frisco, Texas, last year. Aussie Hannah Green lifted the trophy the last time the event was held at Hazeltine, in 2019. The stacked field also features world number two Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, still in search of her first major title.
“I feel the pressure not just for the major but for every week that we play,” the Thai star said, adding that she tries not to let the lack of a major prey on her. “I think everyone has their own time,” she said. “Doesn’t matter (if it’s) now, tomorrow, next two days, five years later. I think I do have my own time and I’m waiting for my time, too.”
© 2024 AFP
