Posted at 11:00 a.m.
In 2021, Nelly Korda imposed her dominance. At just 23 years old, she ended the year with four titles, including a first major tournament win at the PGA Women’s Championship.
She also won Olympic gold in Tokyo with a spectacular final round where she proved she not only had the talent, but also the strength of character to shine in big moments. She also reached number one in the world rankings. She stayed there long enough to seize the American record for the most weeks spent at the top, 29. She will report to Pine Needles Golf Club as the world number two.
However, Korda’s flight was suddenly turned upside down by worrying health problems. On March 13, she announced to her 502,000 Instagram followers that she had to retire after doctors detected a blood clot in her left arm. A news that shook the world of golf, considering the seriousness of the situation.
On April 8, she posted a photo of herself along with a message in which she explained that she had surgery, the clot was removed, and the procedure went well. She also took the opportunity to say that she had contracted COVID-19 in mid-January.
A fearsome player
Less than two months after her operation, she is back in action. She’s back with her signature swing, certainly the smoothest and most natural on the LPGA Tour, and her smile that has become her other trademark over time.
The Floridienne is also recognized as being one of the most difficult players to face.
While she’s a jovial, sneering and eloquent person off the court, she’s focused, determined and even intimidating, as other players have already revealed. Some said she was a simple, approachable girl, but had a killer instinct, nerves of steel, and should never be counted out for a beating between the first tee box and the last green.
Nelly Korda’s main goal is not necessarily to make the most money possible or to set specific short or medium term goals. Her ambitions are clear: she wants to be the best golfer in the world, with all that that entails.
This is what she revealed to Golf Magazine in the May issue: “I want to be number one in the world, I want to win every major tournament and I want to achieve something that no one has ever achieved before. »
If she manages to find the key quickly, she could wreak havoc. Given that she is by far the best irons player on the tour, it will be interesting to see if her surgery will affect her.
Her roster won’t be complete until she wins the US Open, her favorite tournament, and she makes no bones about it.
Sörenstam against the current
If Korda wants to build a career that will stand the test of time and inspire generations, she just has to look carefully at Annika Sörenstam.
After more than 13 years away from competition taking care of her family and building her business, she returned to the game last season, to play a few tournaments on the senior circuit. She wasted no time.
PHOTO PHELAN M. EBENHACK, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Annika Sörenstam returned to the game last season.
She picked up where she left off in 2008 by winning the U.S. Senior Women’s Open by eight strokes, making her eligible for that year’s LPGA U.S. Open.
At 51, the Swede, who has been living in the Orlando, Florida area for a while, has lost none of her precision and competitive instinct.
Sörenstam will probably not be able to compete at the same level as the best players in the world. She had already won two major titles before Nelly Korda was born, but fans will still have the privilege of seeing a living legend at work. A member of the Hall of Fame, she has 72 victories on the LPGA Tour, including 10 majors.
A homecoming for the one who won the United States Open three times. From Thursday to Sunday, the world’s best female golfers will compete for one of the most prestigious trophies, and while it’s unclear who will lift it, history will be made, one way or another. another one.