Whoa, Nelly: Korda cards septuple-bogey at golf’s US Women’s Open

LANCASTER – It was a “bad day at the office” for Nelly Korda, whose chances of claiming her first US Women’s Open title took an early and dramatic hit with a septuple-bogey on the third hole of her first round on May 30.

Starting on the back nine at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, the world No. 1 bogeyed her opening hole.

After a par on the next hole, her tee shot at the 161-yard par-three 12th bounced over the green into a bunker. Her shot out of the sand rolled past the pin and into the water.

After a penalty drop, her low pitch hit the bank and rolled back into the stream.

Following a second penalty drop, her pitch hit the front of the green and once again rolled back into the water.

Korda’s pitch after a third penalty drop stopped about eight feet past the hole and she two-putted to complete the shocking septuple-bogey 10.

“We waited for like 25 to 30 minutes on that tee,” the American, 25, said after the round.

“I was in between a seven-iron and a six-iron. I just didn’t really know what to hit.

“I kind of teed it up behind the tee box a little one club length back. I hit a six-iron and it just kind of penetrated through the wind and it went into the back bunker.

“I kind of had a leaf under my ball, so when I hit, it kind of rocketed through.

“Couldn’t really do anything about that. Yeah, just hit some really bad chips over and over again.”

The two-time Major champion made the turn in 10-over 45. She offset a trio of birdies with three more bogeys on her back nine to card a 10-over 80.

“Not a lot of positive thoughts, honestly,” she added.

“I just didn’t play well today. I didn’t hit it good. I found myself in the rough a lot.

“I started off really poorly but played pretty well on the back nine. I just didn’t really want to shoot 80 but I just kept making bogeys.

“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. Overall, yeah, just a bad day in the office. That’s all I can say.”

After winning six of her past seven events, including her second Major title at the Chevron Championship, Korda will need an outstanding round on May 31 to have a chance at making the cut.

But she was not the only one in danger of missing the cut. Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Brooke Henderson of Canada were some of the other big names to shoot 80.

Lexi Thompson, who announced earlier this week that she will retire from full-time competitive golf at the end of the season, opened with a 78.

At the top, 2021 champion Yuka Saso overcame brutal conditions to take a one-shot lead, with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes helping her post a two-under 68.

The 22-year-old Philippine-born Japanese player’s round might have been better had it not been for a final bogey on the 18th. Until that last dropped shot, she had been the only player to reach three under at any stage.

Saso is keeping her feet firmly on the ground despite her solid start.

“There’s so much golf left,” she said. “I’ll just stay focused and trust the process that I’ve been doing and just have fun.”

Saso was one stroke clear of three players tied for second – American Andrea Lee, Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai and French amateur Adela Cernousek.
AFP, REUTERS