Woodlands, Tx—Nelly Korda is on the verge of rewriting history at the 2024 Chevron Championship, the first women’s major of the year. After an astonishing four consecutive victories on the LPGA Tour, Korda began her quest with an impressive 2-under 68 in the opening round, aiming to equal the all-time record for consecutive wins set by Nancy Lopez in 1978 and Annika Sorenstam in 2004-2005.
“If I achieve my fifth-straight win, it would also mark my second major championship victory, the first since the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship. Despite coming close on several occasions with seven top-20 finishes in 12 major appearances since then, I haven’t been able to break through,” Korda expressed.
Korda’s first-round 68 placed her just behind Lauren Coughlin, who carded a 66, putting her tied for second with Marina Alex and Minami Katsu.
“I definitely felt a bit more fatigued today. I didn’t anticipate the mental drain from those three weeks. When I returned home, I was completely exhausted. I spent the first two days just relaxing at home, cherishing moments with my son Greyson,” Korda shared. “Although I still feel a bit tired, it took me some time to get into my rhythm. I felt the nerves at the start, but once I made the turn, I played with more freedom.”
The “three weeks” refer to Korda’s triumphant run at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, Ford Championship, and T-Mobile Match Play in March and April. Adding the LPGA Drive On Championship earlier in the year, Korda has not been defeated by another professional golfer since mid-January.
However, majors pose a different challenge, and winning any major is formidable. Coupled with the fact that Korda faced the tougher wave on Thursday, her task seems monumental. “I understand it’s partly luck of the draw. I’ve experienced both ends of it before. Regardless, you have to make the most out of it and focus on performing,” Korda remarked.
Superstardom often looms but is seldom realized. Meeting expectations is among the toughest challenges in sports. Korda has grappled with it throughout her career but seems to be reaching a new level of play at 25, boasting 12 victories after this remarkable streak.
Korda has drawn comparisons to Scottie Scheffler, who has also been in stellar form, winning three of his last four tournaments, including a major. Reflecting on her journey, Korda emphasized the importance of learning from failures and staying grounded in successes.
“In 2021, I had a remarkable run. But in 2022 and 2023, golf humbled me. It’s the nature of sports; there are highs and lows. Every athlete experiences the rollercoaster, and that’s what makes the sport so compelling. You mature, grow, and learn more about yourself,” Korda reflected. “You never take these weeks for granted. It’s essential to appreciate them and be grateful. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. Through the losses, I’ve learned a great deal about myself.”
