Korda Opens The Annika Two Shots Off Lead

Nelly Korda returned to competition on November 12 with a seven-under-par 65 at The Annika in Belleair, Florida. The world No. 1 made no bogeys and ended the opening round two strokes behind co-leaders Minami Katsu and Hye-Jin Choi. It was Korda’s first event since the Solheim Cup, held two months earlier.

Katsu and Choi each shot 63. Choi, who had two runner-up finishes during the recent Asia swing, hit 17 greens in regulation. Katsu closed with three consecutive birdies and also avoided bogeys. Lindy Duncan was one stroke behind them at 64; her round included a hole-in-one on the third.

Korda said she had needed time away after feeling burned out following the Solheim Cup, where she posted a 2-1-1 record in the United States’ loss to Europe. She has four wins this season and has already secured the LPGA player of the year award on points. A win in either of the season’s final two tournaments would make her eligible for the LPGA Hall of Fame, though she said her focus was on the tournament at hand.

Korda leads the Race to CME Globe. Next week’s Tour Championship will decide the season champion, with any of the 60 players in the field able to win the $2 million prize. Julia Lopez Ramirez shot 66, while Leona Maguire, Carlota Ciganda and Lottie Woad also opened with 65s.