BELLEAIR, Fla. — Nelly Korda was again to competitors for the primary time in almost two months and did not miss a beat. She ran off 5 straight birdies on the again 9 to stage one other Sunday comeback, closing with a 3-under 67 to win The Annika for her seventh LPGA Tour title this 12 months.
Korda had a tough begin and mentioned she did not have many completely happy ideas when she made the flip at 2 over for the day, two pictures behind Charley Hull. Beginning with a birdie on No. 11, she made 5 in a row on her solution to a three-shot victory.
The one massive shock was seeing her youthful brother, Sebastian, who has been charting his personal profession in tennis that saved him from seeing his sister win till Sunday at Pelican Golf Membership.
Korda, who earlier this 12 months tied an LPGA report with 5 straight victories, grew to become the primary participant to win seven occasions in a season since Yani Tseng in 2011. No different American had received seven occasions in a season since Beth Daniel in 1990.
Korda now has received 4 occasions this 12 months when trailing going into the ultimate spherical.
Hull, going for a wire-to-wire win, merely could not sustain with Korda’s birdie blitz. Coming off her first win worldwide two weeks in the past in Saudi Arabia, Hull closed with a 1-over 71 and tied for second with LPGA rookie Jin Hee Im (68) and Weiwei Zhang (70).
Zhang moved up 24 spots to No. 82 within the Race to CME Globe to maintain her card for subsequent 12 months. The highest 60 advance to the CME Group Tour Championship subsequent week in Naples, the place the winner will get $4 million. Carlota Ciganda moved up three locations to safe the ultimate spot.
Korda final performed Sept. 22 in Ohio. She was planning to play twice throughout the Asian swing till a minor neck damage saved her at dwelling. She was wanting to get again in time to play Pelican, the place she had received two of the earlier three years.
“After taking a while off with an damage, it feels nice to be again out right here,” Korda mentioned. “Nothing like being within the hunt, the adrenaline feeling on the again 9, and being in rivalry. I adore it a lot.”
The victory places her over $4 million for the 12 months, and she will be able to almost match that with a win subsequent week at Tiburon Golf Membership. The rating doesn’t matter for the season finale — all 60 gamers have the identical shot at one of many greatest prizes in girls’s sports activities.
