Why Nelly Korda was IN TEARS after returning to World No.1

Nelly Korda put a difficult year behind her in perfect fashion with her second consecutive win at the Pelican Women's Championship. 

Matt Chivers's picture
Mon, 14 Nov 2022
Nelly Korda returns to World No.1 after emotional win at Pelican Champs

After a year with "more downs than ups", Nelly Korda secured her first win on the LPGA Tour in 12 months at the Pelican Women's Championship at Pelican Golf Club in Florida.

Korda carded a 6-under 64 to claim victory by one shot. It was more heartache for runner-up Lexi Thompson who lost in a playoff to Korda in the very same tournament in 2021.

After battling with her fellow American on the back nine in Belleair, Korda made crucial birdies on 16 and 17 which helped her reach the decisive score of 14-under.

Related: Watch this spectator pick up Nelly Korda's golf ball

The 24-year-old has returned to World No.1 after Atthaya Thitikul became just the second Thai golfer to reach the summit of the Rolex Rankings at the end of October. She was also just the second-ever player to reach this mark before the age of 20.

Korda was ranked first at the beginning of the year, but she was forced to take four months away with a blood clot in her left arm. She is now an eight-time winner on Tour.

The Olympic gold medalist also climbed to 15th in the Race to the CME Globe. The CME Group Tour Championship concludes this week at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida with a $7m prize purse.

Nelly said: 

"I've said it so many times, but it's just been such a rollercoaster. I mean, I guess that's life though. There have been more downs than ups this year I think, and I think that that's what makes this so much sweeter to me.
"I didn't think I would get - with the way my game was as well in the last two LPGA starts that I had, I didn't think that I maybe had the confidence that I was going to win."

She continued: 

"But I had a good solid couple weeks, and I told myself, step by step. I had good memories on this golf course. I was home. I had the comfort level of my parents being in the crowd, too, which plays a part.
"And, yeah, just grateful that I'm sitting in front of you guys here today. Right now. Not that I would've been dead, but just out here competing."

Next page: Charley Hull stunned by 16-year-old phenom in Jeddah