LPGA TOUR
Nelly Korda Outlasts Australia’s Hira Naveed To Win The Ford Championship
America’s Nelly Korda produced a stunning bogey-free 7-under 65 final round to win the Ford Championship in Arizona. The world No. 1 fired seven birdies en route to reaching 20-under at Seville Golf and Country Club. Korda breezed through her front nine holes on Sunday with a 3-under 33 before closing with four unanswered birdies on the back nine. Australia’s Hira Naveed finished runner up two shots back in just her second start on the LPGA Tour.
Korda, aged 25, has scored 11 LPGA Tour titles. Her latest victory is her third win in 2024 from only three starts after claiming last week’s Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship and the LPGA Drive On Championship in January. Korda is the first player to win in three-straight appearances on the LPGA Tour since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016.
Naveed is enjoying her rookie LPGA Tour season after finishing 15th at the LPGA Q-Series to earn her tour membership for 2024. Previously the 26-year-old notched eight career top 10 results on the Epson Tour since 2020. Naveed, who began her golf in Perth before playing collegiate golf at Pepperdine University, posted 65 and 66 over the weekend.
Five players took a share of third place at 17-under. Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee, Sweden’s Frida Kinhult and America’s Lexi Thompson each carded 4-under 68 on Sunday. Sweden’s Maja Stark signed for a 3-under 69. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who held a share of the 54-hole lead, produced a final round 2-under 70. The gritty Spaniard was looking for her first LPGA Tour win in more than 2,600 days, which goes back to the 2018 Buick LPGA Shanghai.
Australians Gabriela Ruffels and Hannah Green put up strong performances. Ruffels, who finished T3 at last week’s Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, closed with a 3-under 69 to get to 15-under and a share of 13th place. Green also produced a 3-under 69 on Sunday to finish one shot further back at 14-under and in a tie for 21st place. Green fired an incredible 11-under 61 on Friday that included a run of six consecutive birdies.
The LPGA Tour moves to Nevada for next week’s T-Mobile Match Play. Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Nelly Korda -20
2. Hira Naveed -18
T3. Mi Hyang Lee -17
T3. Lexi Thompson -17
T3. Frida Kinhult -17
T3. Maja Stark -17
T3. Carlota Ciganda -17
T8. Lauren Coughlin -16
T8. Jennifer Kupcho -16
T8. Alison Lee -16
T8. Hyo Joo Kim -16
T8. Sarah Schmelzel -16
Other Australians
T13. Gabriela Ruffels -15
T21. Hannah Green -14
T45. Karis Davidson -10
T52. Grace Kim -9
T56. Robyn Choi -8
MC. Stephanie Kyriacou
MC. Sarah Kemp
MC. Minjee Lee
Image Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
