LOS ANGELES – Nelly Korda drilled a birdie putt on the first play-off hole to beat Ryann O’Toole at the LPGA Seri Pak Championship, where the American’s second title in as many starts secured her return to world No. 1.
Korda had not played since beating Lydia Ko in a play-off to win the Drive On Championship in Florida seven weeks ago in late January.
However, after shaking off some rust early in the week, she battled through the brutal windy conditions at Palos Verdes Golf Club to emerge with the 10th LPGA title of her career.
The 25-year-old led by three after an eagle at the 14th, but closed with back-to-back bogeys for a two-under 69. She fell into a tie on nine-under 275 with compatriot O’Toole, whose 66 was the lowest round of the day.
The cold wind whipping across the scenic Palos Verdes peninsula south of Los Angeles made for a chaotic final round, the gusts moving the balls on some greens and wafting good shots off target.
Australian Gabriela Ruffels and American Alison Lee shared the lead on the front nine before finishing tied for third on 276, Ruffels closing with a 70 and Lee a 72.
Overnight co-leader Shin Ji-yai of South Korea, a former world No. 1 and two-time Major winner, was making a rare LPGA appearance on a sponsor’s invitation in the tournament hosted by her childhood idol Pak Se-ri.
She carded a 73 to join a group on 277 that also included Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura (70) and American Andrea Lee (68).
“The weekend was brutal,” Korda said. “Today was just really tough. But I think that’s also the beauty of the game. It’s fun to play in these conditions and kind of be a little bit more artistic out here.”
Korda, one-under after three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine, gained valuable ground with a rare birdie at the par-four 12th, where she fired out of the rough to 12 feet and rolled in the putt to tie for the lead on nine-under.
The reigning Olympic champion was alone atop the leaderboard by the time she arrived at the par-five 14th, where she reached the green in two and made a testing left-to-right downhill putt for eagle that gave her a three-shot lead on 11-under.
A bogey followed at the par-four 15th – where she watched the wind push her ball off the green. Unable to convert a long eagle effort from the fringe, she settled for birdie at the par-five 16th.
“Once I made the eagle, I got maybe a little nervous where I kind of got a little ahead of myself and started making some mistakes,” Korda said.
“I seem to always make it interesting... just doing normal Nelly things, making it interesting.”
Meanwhile, O’Toole, who claimed her only LPGA title at the Women’s Scottish Open in 2021, was finishing strong, her birdies at the 16th and the par-three 17th keeping her within striking distance and a long par-saving putt at the last enough to put her in a play-off.
“I can’t be more proud to be in this position,” said O’Toole, who had five birdies and an eagle along with two bogeys in her round.
“That was actually my first play-off ever, so I really enjoyed it. I came from behind and gave it my best chance.” AFP
