Whoa, Nelly! Korda makes it 2 straight wins for her family
Nelly Korda followed in big sister's footsteps with a three-shot victory that looked easier than it felt. “Yeah, Jess' win, I was like, ‘OK, I got to get one now,’" Korda said. But it's nice to get back-to-back Korda wins now.”More than just matching her sister, Korda won for the first time on American soil. Sorenstam finished 29 shots behind Korda, who won by three over Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko. Korda made sure of that with a steady diet of pars and picking up enough birdies when she needed them.
Nelly Korda leads LPGA as Sorenstam falls to bottom of pack
Sorenstam, playing for the first time in more than 12 years after retiring, had no expectations and no excuses. That put her in last place by four shots, 22 shots behind Korda. “Any time you can get ahead of the pack going into Sunday is a positive,” Korda said. Not going to lie, coming down the stretch, those putts were a little shaky.”But she made them, and she's in great position going for her first LPGA Tour victory. “Normally, I hit the ball straight, and today was everything but straight,” Sorenstam said.
Back after 12 years, Sorenstam gets 2 more days on LPGA Tour
Annika Sorenstam chips a shot to the ninth green during the first round of the Gainbridge LPGA golf tournament Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)ORLANDO, Fla. – Annika Sorenstam went more than 12 years without playing on the LPGA Tour. Sorenstam, making a one-time appearance because the LPGA Tour is at her home course, finally got some putts to drop and ran off three birdies on her second nine. She wanted a little competition as she contemplates playing he U.S. Senior Women's Open this summer, and she said she wouldn't have played an LPGA tour event if it wasn't on her home course. But for someone out of competition for nearly as long as her career on the LPGA Tour, she still has ample game. 1 in the world who won her first LPGA Tour event at 15.
Sorenstam returns with a lot more stress and fewer birdies
Annika Sorenstam chips a shot to the ninth green during the first round of the Gainbridge LPGA golf tournament Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)ORLANDO, Fla. – Annika Sorenstam doesn't remember golf being this difficult. With one birdie and one bad hole, Sorenstam had a 3-over 75 in the LPGA Gainbridge on her home course at Lake Nona. Sorenstam was 10 shots behind another Lake Nona member, Lydia Ko, who opened with a 7-under 65 for a two-shot lead. But then, this week isn't about Sorenstam adding to her 72 career victories or even starting a comeback at age 50. After a penalty drop, she hit it back toward the fairway to about 70 yards, hit an ordinary wedge and three-putted from about 18 feet for a triple bogey.
Shibuno passes big test and hangs on to lead in Women's Open
Hinako Shibuno, of Japan, fist bumbs fellow players after her round of golf during the third round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)HOUSTON – Hinako Shibuno passed a big test Saturday in a classic U.S. Women's Open that put a premium on par, keeping the lead with a 3-over 74 going into a final round at Champions Golf Club that figures to be the toughest of all. Shibuno was at 4-under 209 as she bids to become only the third player to make majors their first two LPGA Tour titles. The others were In Gee Chun (2015 U.S. Women's Open and 2016 Evian Championship and Se Ri Pak, who won the LPGA Championship and U.S. Women's Open in 1998. Shibuno won the Women's British Open last year at Woburn, and declined to take up LPGA membership because she didn't think she was ready.