It’s a tale of American dominance on the green, from Scottie Scheffler’s recent triumphs to Nelly Korda’s reign in the women’s game. If Scheffler has claimed victory in three of the last four events he’s played (finishing second in the other, the Houston Open), including the Masters, Korda has been on an unbeatable streak.
Korda, results
The American golfer has clinched victory in all four of the last tournaments she’s competed in. These two champions are leaving crumbs for their competitors, displaying a level of dominance rarely seen in the sport. From tomorrow until Sunday, April 21st, in South Carolina, Scheffler will aim to become the first player since 2006 (Tiger Woods) to win a PGA Tour event (in this case, the RBC Heritage) after triumphing in a Major. Meanwhile, Korda, competing in Texas at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands and in the Chevron Championship during the same period, will strive to emulate the achievements of Nancy Lopez in 1978 and Annika Sorenstam in 2005, the last players to win five consecutive tournaments on the LPGA Tour.
“I love competing, I love golf, and I hope to be an inspiration to the next generation,” stated Korda. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in the sport, she will face off against other golfing titans in the first major championship of the season, including her compatriot Lilia Wu, who will defend her title from 2023. With a prize purse of $7,900,000, the highest in the event’s history, the winner will walk away with $1,185,000. Even for those who miss the cut, there’s a “consolation” prize of $10,000.
Nelly Korda turned professional in 2016, making her debut on the Symetra Tour, where she clinched her first victory at the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge. With rounds of 68-67-69-66, she secured the win over Thai golfer Meechai. In 2021, she started her year by winning the Gainbridge LPGA at Orlando’s Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (par 72), finishing with a total of 272 (-16) strokes. This victory saw her surpass competitors Thompson and Ko (275, -13), as well as South Korean and world number one Ko (277, -11).
The following June, she claimed her first major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, propelling her to the top of the world rankings. She became the first American since Lewis in 2014 to hold the top spot and ended the long dominance of South Korean golfers. Her success also earned her a spot in the individual event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she represented the United States alongside Thompson, Kang, and her older sister Jessica.
On August 7th, she secured the Olympic gold medal at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, finishing the event with 267 strokes, 17 under par. After starting the tournament in second place with 67 strokes, -4 under par, she took the lead in the second round with a score of 62. In the final two rounds, she maintained her advantage, finishing with 69 strokes each time, fending off challenges from home favorite Inami and New Zealand’s Ko, who finished the event with 268 strokes.
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