Blake Davis
The 2024 Chevron Championship felt like closure for Nelly Korda. Just a few weeks ago, Korda captured her second major championship and won her fifth consecutive tournament, tying Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) and Nancy Lopez (1978), who accomplished the same feat. Except maybe there was no outcome at all. Maybe it was just the beginning.
Korda attempts a record sixth straight win this week at the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey. It will be her first time playing since she won the Chevron Championship, and she will arrive fresh from an (unusual in the golf world) appearance at the I met Gala.
A year ago at this event, Korda missed the cut when Jin Young Ko defeated Minjee Lee in a playoff after they both finished at 13 under. A year later, Korda has not lost to a single golfer since the NFL Playoffs (yes, the 2023-24 NFL Playoffs) began in January.
| January 25th to 28th |
LPGA Drive in the Championship |
1 |
$262,500 |
| March 21st to 24th |
Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship |
1 |
$300,000 |
| March 28th to 31st |
Ford Championship |
1 |
$337,500 |
| April 3rd to 7th |
T-Mobile Play by Match |
1 |
$300,000 |
| April 18th to 21st |
Chevron Championship (main) |
1 |
$1,200,000 |
How long can this continue?
“Well, that old saying, ‘It’s when you least expect it,’” said Pat Bradley at the Cognizant Founders Cup earlier this week. Bradley has won 31 times on the LPGA Tour in her career. “Nelly isn’t going to come here when you least expect it. All eyes are on her. It’s going to be difficult. It’s going to be a challenge for Nelly.”
It could be to Korda’s benefit that she is now away from the added pressure and spotlight of the year’s first major.
“I’m sure she can’t wait for the bell to ring and get into those ropes and be able to focus like she does,” Bradley added. “But now, it’s going to be interesting.
“Seeing her at the Met Gala, I mean, it was wonderful. She was absolutely beautiful, and it was just – I was so proud to see this young girl among all these celebrities, and she pulled it off just fabulous, as she is. She is a very talented and wonderful young woman. What model do we have to move our game forward.
In her bid for a sixth consecutive LPGA Tour victory, Sorenstam finished 12th in the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill. She then won three of the next four. Lopez was defeated in her fifth-place match, which took place in her rookie year in 1978. She lost badly to none other than Bradley, but said the experience was great.
“It was fun for me. I liked the pressure and attention when I was young,” Lopez told Golf Digest. “I did a lot of press conferences and played a lot of golf, probably when I didn’t want to. I was tired, but it was a lot of fun.”
Korda didn’t seem to be having much fun at the Chevron Championship, so maybe this week will be a little lighter. On the other hand, if she advances to Saturday or Sunday and is in or near the lead, the pressure will be enormous and she will simply try once again to cross the finish line.
Luckily for her, she’s been pretty good at it lately.
