Nelly Korda embraces unpredictable weather, takes commanding 3-shot lead at Women’s Open

Korda dominated Friday morning as she has a three shot lead after a different weather condition challenged her.

Nelly Korda recorded another strong round of golf Friday at St. Andrews for the AIG Women’s Open. She signed for a bogey-free 4-under 68 round in the tournament.

Korda sits at 8-under overall and holds a three-shot lead over her playing partners Lilia Vu and Charley Hull. They are both at 5-under overall.

The afternoon wave still has to play Round 2 of the Women’s Open, but Korda set the tone in a big way.

Thursday saw 40 mph winds for the field, and Friday morning brought the rain to St. Andrews for a little while. The wind returned for the last bit of her round. Nonetheless, it gave Korda another challenge to overcome and shoot a good score.

“Yesterday it was brutally windy throughout the range session until about probably 16,” Korda said. “Then today, it was raining a good bit during my range session, and then it was up until probably my second or third hole. It was pretty calm the front nine, and then once we got to probably — I think 18 and No. 1 — that’s when it started pumping.”

Her group started on 10, and Korda made seven straight pars to start her round. Korda birdied the 17th and 18th to turn in 34 strokes. Two more birdies came at the par-5 5th and par-4 9th holes. That birdie on the last gave her the commanding three-shot advantage.

“I didn’t take advantage of the calmer conditions on my front nine, the back nine, but I played some really solid golf, and I’m happy with that,” she said.

Keeping the scorecard clean in conditions like these is quite an achievement. Ahead of the event, Korda switched up the flat stick, and it seems to be working so far. She went from using a Scotty Cameron mid-mallet to a full mallet.

“I put a new putter in, the Spider. I just needed to look at something different. It rolls nicely. I’m very pleased with it. I have no complaint,” Korda said.

Photo by Morgan Harlow/R&A/R&A via Getty Images

The Florida resident is no stranger to adapting in 2024. In her six LPGA victories, she won on so many different types of grasses that she knows how to change things up when she needs to.

After these past two days, Korda looks like she has found her form again. Her game looks closer to 100% than anyone has seen from her in a while.

“I think this year, in general, I’ve won on so many types of grasses in different conditions that you just kind of always have to adapt,” she said. “You’re always adapting to your situations, and I think that’s what’s so fun about links golf.

Korda holds the lead for now, but the afternoon waves likely smell blood in the water. A lot of golf is left, but the 26-year-old will be in one of the final groups for Moving Day at St. Andrews.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.