Nelly Korda has displayed her top form at the Women’s British Open, leading the tournament by three shots.
The American golfer, ranked number one, showed remarkable control over the blustery conditions at St. Andrews, shooting a bogey-free 4-under 68 in the second round on Friday. This performance gave her a three-stroke lead at the halfway point of the tournament.
Korda, who won the Chevron Championship earlier in the year, is on track to secure the final women’s major of 2024. She has already accumulated five additional titles this year, reinforcing her status as a leading player in women’s golf despite a slight dip in form over recent months.
Her ability to adapt to links golf has been evident. Korda remarked, “This year in general, I’ve won on just so many different types of grasses, in different types of conditions, that you just kind of always have to adapt. That’s the same thing in tennis, same thing in life. You’re always adapting to your situations at hand, and I think that’s what’s so fun about links golf — you’re literally starting it 30 yards left of your target, and I’m not a fade player but I’m hitting massive fades. I think it’s fun hitting these little low drivers, too. I’m having fun, and I enjoy links golf a lot.”
Korda’s opening rounds were played alongside defending champion Lilia Vu and England’s Charley Hull. Hull, who led after the first round with a 67, shot even par in the second round, placing her tied for second with Vu at 5 under. Vu carded a 70.
Despite Hull’s strong start, she fell behind Korda, who capitalized on key putts, including birdies at Nos. 17 and 18. Hull acknowledged the challenge, noting, “Only three shots behind — that’s nothing going into the weekend, especially on this golf course. I left a lot of putts out there. I think Nelly had 30 putts and I had 36 putts. So that’s six putts that I’ve lost to her on the greens.”
Chinese golfer Ruoning Yin, last year’s Women’s PGA Championship winner, shot a 72 and is in fourth place at 4 under. Olympic champion Lydia Ko carded a 70 and is among six players at 3 under, five strokes behind the leader. Swedish amateur Louise Rydqvist is also in this group, having shot a 67.
Notably missing the cut were several high-ranked players: No. 3-ranked Jin Young Ko (10 over), No. 5-ranked Hannah Green (7 over), No. 13-ranked Minjee Lee (9 over), and No. 14-ranked Lauren Coughlin (6 over). Coughlin had won two of her previous three starts, including the Scottish Open.
Korda, who began the round one stroke behind Hull, demonstrated strong performance with a new putter, including a birdie at the par-5 fifth hole and another at No. 9. Vu and Hull, who birdied the last hole, remain three shots off the lead.
Korda, aiming to surpass her best finish at the Women’s British Open — ninth place in 2019 — remains focused on her game. “I’m just trying to stay very present and not think about anything other than one shot at a time,” Korda said. “And whatever golf and links golf throws at me, I’m going to take it head on.”
