Top-ranked Nelly Korda misses cut as Amy Yang, Sarah Schmelzel share Women’s PGA C’ship lead

SEATTLE – Once again for the wrong reason, the story of the day belonged to Nelly Korda.

The world No. 1 had yet another epic collapse in the second round of the Women’s PGA Championship on June 21, as South Korea’s Amy Yang and American Sarah Schmelzel, both seeking a first Major title, shared the lead.

Korda, who has won six LPGA titles this season, was one stroke off the lead when the day began but fired a nine-over 81 – the highest score of her professional career – and finished on six-over 150 to miss the cut by a stroke.

The two-time Major winner and reigning Olympic champion had eight bogeys and a double-bogey before making her lone birdie at the 18th, a tap-in after nearly holing out from a bunker for eagle.

The American clinched her second Major at April’s Chevron Championship, but she missed the cut at the US Women’s Open – in which she had a first-round 80 – and last week’s LPGA Meijer Classic and has struggled to regain top form.

Even so, her fall was stunning, a third straight missed cut for the first time in her career.

“No words for how I’m playing right now. I’m just going to go home and try to reset,” said a tearful and crestfallen Korda, who had tied the all-time LPGA record this spring when she won five consecutive starts.

“A lot went my way at the beginning part of the year, and (I’m) just giving it back.”

The 25-year-old did not speak much after her round, understandably, while Yang and Schmelzel will hope to keep up the momentum in the final two rounds at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.

World No. 73 Schmelzel, who missed the cut in five of her past seven starts, fired the week’s low round, a five-under 67, and Yang shot 68 to each finish on six-under 138 after 36 holes.

“It was a little softer this morning. Overall greens were perfect. I was happy to take advantage of it,” Schmelzel said.

“Definitely firmed up out there so if you can hit it well off the tee, I think you can have some shorter irons and you can be a little more aggressive.”

The 30-year-old managed her best LPGA finish in March with a runner-up effort at the Blue Bay LPGA tournament but has struggled since.

“Just staying patient, working on the same type of golf things,” she added of her perseverance.

“It’s a never-ending cycle and I was just reminding myself of that, that it’s going to turn around again.”

Yang, who had the day’s only bogey-free round, dropped her approach at the par-five 18th hole inches from the hole and tapped in to claim a share of the lead.

The 34-year-old has 21 career top-10 Major finishes without a victory, her closest calls being runner-up efforts at the 2012 and 2015 US Opens. She won her fifth and most recent LPGA title at the 2023 Tour Championship.

“My back had been bothering me last few days, but I was still striking the ball really well like (on Thursday), and so I thought it would be fine,” the South Korean said.

“I woke up (on Friday) and starting few holes was feeling a little pain on my lower back, but I fought through really well and that actually gave me more focus out there.”

Sharing third on 140, two strokes off the pace, were American Lexi Thompson, Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and South Korean Ko Jin-young.

Thompson, who announced in May that this would be her final season, fired a 72. Shibuno shot 70 and Ko carded a 68.

Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, who like Korda started the day one stroke behind first-round leader Thompson, fell back with a 75 and was tied for 18th on 144. AFP, REUTERS