MAINEVILLE, Ohio − Many LPGA golfers enjoy the change of pace that comes with team events on the tour.
Last week, World No. 1 Nelly Korda helped lead Team USA to its first Solheim Cup win since 2017. Korda may have cherished that title even more than the half-dozen wins she’s logged on the LPGA Tour this year.
“It’s very hard to compare the two. Maybe a little bit more fun, I would say,” Korda said. “It’s just so different having a teammate out there that you can have fun with and also rely on. It’s just a little bit less pressure and a lot more fun.”
A fatigued Korda took to the tee box at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Korda didn’t let a lack of sleep spiral into costly mistakes.
Korda, paired with reigning Kroger Queen City Championship winner Minjee Lee and Jeeno Thitikul, fired a bogey-free 67. She was perfect hitting fairways (14-for-14) and found 14-of-18 greens in regulation. Three of her five birdies came during a six-hole stretch. Her birdie on No. 18 gave her a 67, putting her two shots off the pace of leader Ashleigh Buhai.
Korda has made history this season as just the fourth player on tour to win six times before June, joining a trio of Hall-of-Famers in Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs and Lorena Ochoa. Now the 26-year-old American has to switch gears heading into this week during her first appearance in the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
Kroger Queen City Championship: Field | Leaderboard | Photos
The team atmosphere from last week’s triumph in Gainesville, Virginia, is over. She’s back to being the hunted with a target on her back.
“Hate all the girls again,” Korda joked on Wednesday when asked about the mindset switch when it’s back to individual stroke play.
LPGA golfer, Nelly Korda, putts on the 8th green during the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championships at TPC River Bend golf course in Maineville, Ohio, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Korda, from Bradenton, Florida, finished the day with a 67 and -5.
Her LPGA rivals won’t turn from friend-to-foe completely. In reality, Korda has climbed to the top of the rankings by locking in. She’ll follow that same formula in Cincinnati.
“Just really have to be precise and diligent on hitting your targets and focusing on that,” Korda said. “Just go out and enjoy myself, play some good golf, stay in my bubble and take it a shot at a time.”
More: Here’s what LPGA players said about TPC River’s Bend for Kroger Queen City Championship
Cincinnati is quick turnaround for Solheim Cup competitors
The only thing that seemingly could stop Korda this week is jet lag.
It was a tough turnaround for the 11 Solheim Cup competitors making the trip to Maineville this week to TPC River’s Bend for the penultimate event on the current American leg of the LPGA Tour.
Add in a celebration Sunday night for the Solheim Cup victory and many of the world’s best are running on fumes to start the tournament.
“My energy levels are definitely running in the lower 50s,” Rose Zhang said. “Not only was last week really taxing on the mental part of the game, but we were also functioning on five, six hours of sleep every single day.”
Thankfully for Korda, she’s an avid coffee fan and doesn’t waste time sightseeing before events. She cut off celebrating the Solheim Cup early Sunday night, took a noon flight, got to Cincinnati around 2 p.m. on Monday, got to her rental house and chilled.
“I’ve spent a lot more time in my bed this week than normal. I try to conserve my energy a good bit,” Korda said. “I’ve just been resting.”
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