American golfer Nelly Korda took her tee shot during the second round of the 2024 Women's British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland, on Friday. The photo was taken by Steve Walsh and provided by PA via The Associated Press.
American golfer Nelly Korda took control of the Women's British Open at St. Andrews, posting a flawless 4-under 68 in the second round to grab a three-stroke lead. The world number one, known for her strong performances this year, is proving her versatility by mastering the unpredictable links course. Her bogey-free round put her at 8-under par for the tournament, showcasing her adaptability and skill in challenging conditions.
Korda, who already won the Chevron Championship earlier this year, is aiming for her second major title in 2024. She has racked up five additional titles this year, solidifying her status as the top player in women's golf. Despite a recent dip in form, Korda’s performance at St. Andrews demonstrates her ability to rise to the occasion, especially on the demanding links course.
Korda’s success is particularly impressive given her growing comfort with links golf, which requires players to adapt constantly to varying conditions. Reflecting on her performance, she noted that adjusting to the elements and different types of grasses has become second nature to her this year. The American golfer, who isn't known for hitting fades, is finding enjoyment in the challenges that link golf presents, including playing low drivers and targeting shots with more precision.
Korda has been playing alongside defending champion Lilia Vu and English favourite Charley Hull, who had led after the first round. Hull, shooting even par, now sits tied for second at 5-under with Vu, who carded a 70. Although Hull found herself three shots behind Korda, she remained confident heading into the weekend, emphasizing that the gap was manageable on this course.
Hull, ranked 10th in the world, lamented missed opportunities on the greens, noting that she had six more putts than Korda, which contributed to the gap between them. Still, Hull is determined to stay competitive as she hunts for her first major victory.
China’s Ruoning Yin, last year’s Women's PGA Championship winner, is also in contention, sitting alone in fourth place at 4-under after shooting a 72. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Lydia Ko from New Zealand carded a 70, placing her among six players tied at 3-under. Swedish amateur Louise Rydqvist joined the group after an impressive round of 67.
Some notable names failed to cut, including third-ranked Jin Young Ko, who finished at 10-over, and fifth-ranked Hannah Green, who ended her tournament at 7-over. Two-time major winner Minjee Lee also missed the cut, finishing 9-over, alongside Lauren Coughlin, who had been in strong form coming into the tournament but couldn’t overcome the challenging conditions.
Despite windy conditions for the first two days, only 20 players were under par after 36 holes. The forecast suggests calmer weather for the weekend, which could lead to some lower scores.
Korda’s steady play has her on track for what could be her best finish at the Women's British Open, having previously finished ninth in 2019. As she moves forward, she remains focused on taking things one shot at a time and staying present in the moment, prepared to handle whatever challenges golf throws her way.
