Five Takeaways from Nelly Korda's First Win on American Soil at the Gainbridge LPGA

Photo provided by Ben Harpring

1) Korda Dominance in Florida

The open to 2021 is looking a lot like the beginning of the restart of 2020. The first two events' trophies featured the same last name of Kang at the opening Ohio swing the previous year. The trophies of 2021 feature Korda, as Jessica and Nelly combined with sweeping the first two tournaments with their parents watching.

“I think it's my first professional win in front of them, both of them. I don't think I've ever won an event in front of my mom. So for it to be in front of them it's a great feeling,” Korda explained after the round.

Korda guided a steady Sunday finish, with three birdies on the front and a full slate of pars on the back, delivering her first victory on American soil and fourth in her career. She follows Jessica with winning her 6th event at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.

If the Solheim Cup committee in 2024 is looking for recommendations, the Americans should be all in on somewhere, anywhere in the sunshine state. The Kordas are better than the fresh-squeezed oranges of their home state, with a remarkable track record dating back to the 2017 CME Group Tour Championship.

It’s Nelly Korda’s first victory on American soil and 4th career victory. She is the top-ranked American and will probably pass Inbee Park to move to third in the world when the rankings are updated. Coming into the week, she was .14 behind Park, a gap that the victory should cover.

The elder Korda can join her younger sister in position to represent the United States in Tokyo with a strong performance in Florida next week. She was 17th in the world before this week. Jessica needs to be inside of the top 15 of the Rolex Rankings on June 28th, 2021, to have the opportunity to don the red, white, and blue in the 2021 Olympics.

They’re the second sisters to win back to back on the LPGA Tour, with Charlotta and Annika Sorenstam winning the Safeway International and Kraft Nabisco Championship in March of 2000, respectively.

2) Annika Sorenstam Puts on Hard Hat for Full Week of Work in LPGA Return

Not many players can claim a 50-consecutive made cut streak with a 13-year gap in the middle. Sorenstam carded a one-under 71 Friday, including a chip-in, to get to the weekend. The finish may not have been what the 72-time winner envisioned after adding two days to her appearance at Lake Nona Golf Club, but she kept her preparation for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in perspective.

“I'm just thankful for being here, playing here and be able to make the cut. I think overall it's been quite successful in the sense that I accomplished what I wanted, which was to go out here and just play and play and play,” Sorenstam said.

Her duties expanded beyond the golf course, as one of the greatest of all time agreed to every media request. Sorenstam was part of Golf Channel's "Caddy Knows Best" segment and explained the challenge of the 15th hole for the Aon Risk Reward segment. The most notable moments were with her kids, Will and Ava.

“I want them to see when you have a passion for something and also what it takes to be good at something. Hopefully that will rub off whatever they want to do,” Sorenstam said.

3) The World’s No. 1 Remains Consistent as Ever

In her pre-tournament press conference, Jin Young Ko answered if she could teach anyone anything about putting, what she would teach. With her ear-to-ear smile, the World No. 1 responded, "How to putting well under pressure.”

Ko's fourth consecutive top-five finish is due to her improved putting and her trademark of hitting greens in regulation, which she has led the LPGA Tour in each full season Ko has been a member of the tour. The streak dates back to the Volunteers of America Classic. She hit 86% of greens this week, leading the field.

Ko also worked with putting coach Gareth Raflewski in person for the first time since the 2019 CME Group Tour Championship, focusing on keeping her arms closer to her body.

4) Angel Yin Makes Opening 2021 Solheim Case

2020 was a difficult season for the two-time Solheim Cup veteran. As she shared after the third round this week, she battled left shoulder pain throughout the restart. Yin's quality play put her into the final group, and the first time she was within five shots of the lead since the 2019 Pure Silk Championship.

With U.S. captain Pat Hurst looming, who was granted an additional captain’s pick before the week, Yin’s volatility was on display. With five birdies Sunday, Yin carded one over, featuring three double bogeys caused by unforced errors. Dropping an explicative caught by Golf Channel’s mics before her second shot on the par 5 15th, the 22-year-old hooked a three wood into the water after her caddy suggested to put it away. This was after not taking driver off the tee.

Miraculously, Yin got a sand save from 140 yards out to post a par that hole. The immense talent couldn't save her from similar mistakes, such as sending a wedge from 118 into the hazard left on the final hole.

Yin suggested what she had to lose before mailing her ball to the water, and the collapse could be why she doesn't book a ticket to Inverness Club. The Solheim Cup year events are worth time and a half the points they are in non-Solheim seasons. Instead of a second-place finish and 30 points, she posted 7th place, worth 22.5 points.

As of now, Yin is on the outside looking in to make the team. She’s 21st in Solheim Cup points, with the top seven getting bids and 77th in the Rolex World Rankings. She’d need to be in the top two players in the rankings who haven’t qualified for the team via points to guarantee a spot. Otherwise, her opportunity to play for three straight Solheim Cups lies in the hands of Hurst, who was an assistant captain for both of Yin’s Solheim appearances.

5) Lydia Ko Puts on Sunday Show at Home Course

The former world no. 1 and 36-hole leader nearly didn't come to Lake Nona, as she had offseason surgery to fix a deviated septum. Ko returned to her home course with a fresh airway and briefly slowed down, going through a fifteen-hole stretch from the 15th on Saturday through the 11th Sunday without a birdie. Then, she breathed fire with four birdies in a row Sunday on the 12th through 15th.

“It was just a confidence boost for the day. I had my first birdie, and I was like, yay, actually birdies are possible because when you keep not seeing it happen, you feel like, man, it's just not going to happen, period,” Ko shared.

The confidence boost resulted in a T2 finish alongside Lexi Thompson, three back of Korda’s winning score. It’s the Kiwi’s 4th top 10 in her last five starts. More positive memories are coming for Ko, as next week Golden Ocala hosts the Drive On Championship, the course where Lydia Ko became the No. 1 player in 2015 at the Coates Golf Championship.

Bets of the Week Analysis

Brittany Lincicome- T24

Nasa Hataoka- T52

Danielle Kang- MC

Celine Boutier- MC

Sung Hyun Park- MC

Mulligan? Where's the mulligan? This set of picks was a brutal performance. In a similar argument, it's time to wait for Park. The offseason provides an opportunity to reset.

It’s funny that the rationale for selecting Danielle Kang or Nelly Korda would've been similar- they both played incredibly well at the last event. One missed the cut, one hoisted the trophy this week. As noted above, the Florida tiebreaker did not get the weight it should have. It's a good note for DFS players especially, as the LPGA wraps up its opening Sunshine state swing next week at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala.

Lexi Thompson finished tied for second with back-to-back top 10s to be in 2nd place in the official money title bet, a ray of light on the 28 to 1 selection. We're just off the first hole for the conclusion of that bet.

2021

Units Bet: 50

Units Won: 0

ROI: N/A

*10 units allocated to year-long money race bet*

Current Money Title Positions

Lexi Thompson- 2nd

Brooke Henderson- 12th