For 15 holes at Hazeltine, Nelly Korda looked ready to place herself near the top of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship leaderboard. Then came the water at 16.
The World No. 1 signed for a 2 under 70 on Thursday. It kept her in the tournament, but it also left her 7 shots behind Ina Yoon, whose 9 under 63 tied the championship single round record. Korda made 5 birdies and had real control for long stretches. One swing changed the tone.
Her tee shot at the par 4 16th found the creek left of the fairway. A penalty followed. Then came a third shot to 35 feet and a three putt double bogey. What had looked like a 68 or better became a survival round.
Still, the 70 gives her a sturdy foundation for Friday. It also came with a reminder of her reach, as young fans in No. 13 shirts followed her around Hazeltine and gave the day a softer edge.
Korda Builds Momentum Before The Splash
Korda’s opening stretch had some rough edges. She started with 3 pars, then dropped her first shot at the par 3 4th after missing left off the tee. Her short game could not fully repair the mistake, and she missed an 18 foot 6 inch par putt.
The response came quickly. Birdies at 6 and 7 moved her back under par and settled the round before the turn. That stretch mattered because Hazeltine played firm, fast and unforgiving. A slow start can become a long walk here.
Korda’s best golf arrived on the back 9. She birdied the par 5 11th, then hit a precise tee shot to 5 feet at the par 3 13th. At 15, she wedged to 8 feet and converted again. That birdie moved her to 4 under.
At that point, the round had shape. Korda had repaired the early bogey, leaned on sharp approach play and created the kind of chances that usually travel well at a major.
The 16th Hole Changes The Math
The 16th demanded a committed tee shot. Korda did not deliver one. With wind coming from the right and the hole asking for control, she made a quick swing and sent the ball into the left creek.
“It was solid. Honestly, just made one bad swing, which ended up in a double. Overall, pretty happy with my day,” Korda said.
Her review was fair. The swing was costly, but it was not a full round problem. Korda hit enough quality shots to prove her game was not far away.
The issue is margin. Yoon’s 63 removed much of it. A 7 shot gap after 18 holes is playable, but it changes the next 3 days. Korda cannot give away holes like 16 and expect to close quickly.
There is also context in her favor. A few weeks earlier, she trailed by 7 after the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open and still won. That does not make another comeback likely by itself. It does make the deficit less frightening.
No. 13 Fans Give The Round A Human Edge
As Korda moved through Hazeltine, a group of young girls followed in shirts marked with No. 13. The number matters to her. She has called it her favorite, partly because her parents are 13 days apart and because her second major was also her 13th LPGA win.
The scene gave the round a different texture. The fans were not there for a scorecard lesson. They were there for Korda. Some carried signs. Others waited along the ropes. Their presence was hard to miss.
That connection did not erase the double bogey. It did show why Korda’s rounds now carry more than leaderboard weight. She is chasing trophies, records and Hall of Fame points, but she is also pulling younger fans toward the sport.
For a player trying to manage major pressure, that support can help. Korda smiled when discussing the group afterward. On a day that ended with frustration at 16, the kids gave her something better to carry into Friday.
Friday Demands A Charge
Korda does not need a panic round. She does need a sharper one. Hazeltine will keep asking for clean tee shots, controlled approaches and smart misses. The course punished her one loose swing on Thursday. It will do the same again if she gives it the chance.
Her approach game looked strong enough to contend. The birdies at 13 and 15 showed real command. The problem was not a lack of chances. It was one destructive hole at the wrong time.
Yoon’s record tying 63 sets the chase. Korda’s 70 keeps her part of it. Friday now becomes the pivot point.
A clean second round would move her back into the center of the championship. Another loose stretch would make the climb steep. After Thursday, the equation is simple: keep the ball dry, keep creating chances and turn a survival score into a real run.
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FAQs
What did Nelly Korda shoot in Round 1 at Hazeltine?
Nelly Korda opened with a 2-under 70 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
What happened to Nelly Korda on the 16th hole?
Korda hit her tee shot into the creek left of the fairway. She made double bogey after a penalty and a three putt.
How far behind was Nelly Korda after Round 1?
Korda finished 7 shots behind Ina Yoon, who opened with a record-tying 63.
Why were young fans wearing No. 13 shirts for Korda?
No. 13 is Korda’s favorite number. A group of young fans wore it to support her at Hazeltine.
Can Nelly Korda still contend after a 70?
Yes. The 70 kept her in the tournament, but she needs a sharper Friday to close the gap.
