LPGA TOUR
KPMG Women's PGA Championship
Nelly Korda Claims Maiden Major Win at KPMG Women’s PGA
Nelly Korda scored her first major title after a three-shot victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. With her sixth win on the LPGA Tour, the 22-year-old American reached world No.1 in the Rolex Rankings. She is the first American to hold the status since Stacy Lewis in 2014.
Korda posted rounds of 70, 63, 68 and 68 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia to reach 19-under. Her sensational second round produced 10 birdies, which included a stretch of six consecutive red numbers on the front nine.
Korda entered the final round in a share of the lead at 15-under with fellow American Lizette Salas. The pair was streets ahead of the field holding a massive five-shot lead over Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, France’s Celine Boutier and Italy’s Giulia Molinaro.
Korda began her final round on Sunday with confidence firing a birdie at the 3rd hole. The 2019 Australian Open winner then produced a superb eagle at the par 5, 5th hole after she hit a 7-wood from 243 yards to 18 inches. Salas made a birdie at the same hole. Korda’s two-shot advantage was halved at the next hole when Salas poured in another birdie. Korda maintained her one-shot lead over Salas through the midway point of the round with both players scoring pars over the next five holes. The 12th hole was crucial to the result. Korda fired her second eagle of the round when she hit an iron approach to eight feet at the par 5. Salas made a bogey after finding the bunker behind the green. The margin blew out to four shots and then stretched to five shots when Korda made her second birdie for the day at the 14th hole. Korda gave two shots back to field with a double bogey at the 15th hole and held on to her three-shot lead over the closing three holes.
Salas finished outright second at 16-under to match her best result at a major championship. The 31-year-old, finished second at the 2019 Women’s British Open.
Molinaro (72) and Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim (68) took a share of third place at 10-under—nine shots back from Korda. Tavatanakit (74) and 2017 Women’s PGA champion Danielle Kang (67) claimed a share of fifth place at 8-under.
Gabriela Ruffels was the best-placed Australian finishing in a tie for 33rd place at even par. The 21-year-old, who became the first Australian to win the coveted US Women’s Amateur in 2019, shot a stunning bogey-free 7-under 65 on Friday.
Final Scores
KPMG Women's PGA Championship
1. Nelly Korda -19
2. Lizette Salas -16
T3. Hyo Joo Sim -10
T3. Giulia Molinaro -10
T5. Danielle Kang -8
T5. Patty Tavatanakit -8
T7. Austin Ernst -7
T7. Celine Boutier -7
Australians
T33. Gabriela Ruffels E
T40. Minjee Lee +1
63. Su Oh +6
MC. Sarah Kemp
MC. Katherine Kirk
MC. Hannah Green
Photo credit: Kevin C. Cox/ Getty Images
