ST ANDREWS – World No. 1 Nelly Korda is hoping to rediscover her stunning early-season form,
as the Women’s British Open returns to the famous old course at St Andrews this week.
The American won six times in seven starts on the LPGA Tour between January and May, including her second Major title at the Chevron Championship.
She also became the first player since Annika Sorenstam in 2005 to win five consecutive LPGA Tour events.
But since then, her best finish was a tie for 22nd at the recently concluded Paris Olympics.
The 26-year-old missed the cut at both the US Open and PGA Championship and tied for 26th at the Evian Championship in the season’s other three Majors.
“I think recently what’s been happening to me is I make a mistake and then I make another mistake on top of it,” Korda said,
after a poor finish to her final round in Paris, including a 15th-hole triple-bogey, took her out of contention to retain the gold medal she won in Tokyo.
“I need to control that bit of it where I don’t compile all the mistakes, which that’s what I’ve been kind of doing recently.”
If she can reduce all her mistakes, she probably has a good chance at the British Open – she has yet to win this Major, but she has four top-14 finishes in the past five years.
World No. 2 Lilia Vu is the British Open defending champion but had never previously had the experience of playing at St Andrews, and she is relishing the opportunity to be at the home of golf.
“I took pictures on the Swilcan Bridge yesterday and again today. It’s a surreal feeling and I’m trying to take it all in,” said the American, who is also 26.
“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to defend a title. If I’m defending something, it feels like you have something to lose. But when you start afresh at the beginning of the tournament, you haven’t won the tournament yet. So I think I’m going to stick to that kind of mindset.”
Vu will play alongside Korda and the runner-up last season, Charley Hull of England, in the opening two rounds.
Hull is the big home hope for victory but has had to battle back from a shoulder injury that forced her to miss July’s Evian event and is hoping the temperatures do not plummet on Scotland’s east coast.
“When it’s cold, it (the shoulder) can play up a bit. I’ve got degenerative arthritis in it as well, so I just try to keep it warm. Apart from that, I’m healthy and ready to go,” the 28-year-old said.
The world No. 10 is still waiting to win her first Major and said doing it at St Andrews would be even more special. There has not been a British women’s Major winner since Georgia Hall in this tournament in 2018.
“Obviously it’s the home of golf – it would be a pretty special win, something you’ve always dreamt of as a baby, so it would be very special,” Hull added.
“As you walk down 17 and 18 you get goosebumps, it’s cool.”
Fresh from winning gold in Paris, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko now has her sights set on ending her eight-year wait to add to her two Major titles from 2015 and 2016.
While the top stars are all optimistic regarding their chances this week, they are likely set for a challenging start because of the weather conditions.
According to Golfweek’s preview of the event, there will be heavy rain on Aug 22 in the opening round, with strong winds expected to reach 56-64kmh, and there is a 10 per cent chance of it hitting 80kmh.
More rain and gust are expected in the second round, before the sun comes out for the weekend.
If players can overcome all that, there is more than just glory and the US$9 million (S$11.8 million) in total prize money to play for in Scotland.
It is also the final qualifying event for both the European and American teams ahead of the Solheim Cup in September.
Europe are aiming to retain the trophy for an unprecedented fourth time in Virginia after a dramatic 14-14 tie between the sides in Spain in 2023. AFP
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Source: USA Today
