'Poor In All Aspects' - Nelly Korda T3 At Founders Cup But Faces Mammoth Comeback Prospect To Claim Record-Breaking LPGA Tour Win
Korda failed to generate any momentum at Upper Montclair Country Club and slid back into the back as Madelene Sagstrom and Rose Zhang created their own private tournament out in front


World No.1 Nelly Korda will have to complete the biggest comeback ever on the LPGA Tour if she is to earn a history-making sixth-straight win on Sunday, despite heading into the final round in a tie for third.
Korda is striving for half a dozen consecutive LPGA Tour titles in a row - a record that has never been reached before and appears highly unlikely to change any time soon.
The reason for that is because Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom sits at the top of the Cognizant Founders Cup leaderboard on 19-under, one stroke ahead of American, Rose Zhang - with the pair heading off to have their own private tournament, it seems.
But Korda - who has been matched by Sei Young Kim and Epson Tour Player of the Year, Gabriela Ruffels so far - is back on eight-under following a tough Moving Day which greatly affected her chances of winning once more.
The 25-year-old - who earlier this week followed Tiger Woods in appearing at the Met Gala as a pro golfer - made a solid start to her latest event via scores of 69 and 66, but while the majority of the contenders went on to add low numbers to their tally on Saturday, Korda stumbled.
Madelene Sagstrom snagged the solo-lead at @LPGAfounders 👀FULL LEADERBOARD ⬇️ https://t.co/XTs7IEXI0SMay 11, 2024
On the par-72 layout at Upper Montclair Country Club, New Jersey, Korda produced four bogeys and only two birdies across an extremely untidy front nine. The back-nine was far neater, however, with eight pars and a lone birdie restricting the overall damage to just one-over.
Reacting to a bad day at the office, Korda said: "Yeah, it's just kind of poor in all aspects. Yesterday was good in everything and today was poor in everything, so that's just pretty much golf for you.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"Yeah, just made too many kind of stupid, silly mistakes, which was unfortunate because they [Sagstrom and Zhang] were playing so well. So now there is just a massive gap.
"I think I've played really good golf the past couple months. I'm human, so I'm going to have bad days. I'm not going to feel 100% out here mentally, physically, or whatever, but I'm going to give it my all.
It was just one of those days where it felt like a constant battle and didn't really play too well, but I fought until the end."
Great birdie from @NellyKorda to get one back 👊We're live NOW on Peacock! pic.twitter.com/r8kAVXFQtgMay 11, 2024
That 'massive gap' that Korda referred to is currently 11 shots - a figure that no player on the LPGA Tour has ever recovered from to win. A 10-stroke deficit has been overturned three times - most recently in 2008 by Louise Friberg at the Mastercard Classic. Golfing legend, Annika Sorenstam also achieved the feat at the 2001 Office Depot. The first to do it was Mickey Wright at the Tall City Open in 1964.
Not adverse to a spot of history-making activity, though, Korda insists she will "shoot my shot" on Sunday in a bid to create more extraordinary scenes.
She said: "I'm still -- I'm far away but still in it, in a sense. Just going to try and shoot my shot tomorrow and see how it goes...
"You have to be methodical and plot your way around. If you're not playing well out here, it just feels like everything is tumbling down, especially off the tee. So definitely have to be methodical and see if it's your day."
Korda will tee off on Sunday alongside Mao Saigo at 12:15pm ET in the third-last group.
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
'I Think We All Hoped It Would Have Been A Little Further Long, And That's No Secret' - Brooks Koepka's Echoes Recent Tough Love Towards LIV Golf
The five-time Major champion said progress is being made with the PIF-backed circuit after stating it was "quite far behind" its rivals on The Joe Pomp Show
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
How You Can Play St Andrews Old Course In Reverse
You can win a tee time on the 'reversed' Old Course at St Andrews next year by shooting the lowest gross score over the virtual links this April
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Augusta National Women’s Amateur Winners: Where Are They Now?
The Augusta National Women's Amateur was first played in 2019 and, since then, a number of the tournament's winners have gone on to forge superb careers
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Augusta National Women's Amateur 2025 Tee Times - Round One
Lottie Woad returns to defend her Augusta National Women's Amateur title, with the Amateur World No.1 getting her first round underway alongside Amateur World No.2 Jasmine Koo
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Rianne Malixi Withdraws From Augusta National Women's Amateur With Back Injury
Rianne Malixi had been among the favorites going into the Augusta National Women's Amateur, but the US Women’s Amateur champion has been forced to withdraw due to injury
By Matt Cradock Published
-
How To Watch Augusta National Women’s Amateur: Live Streams, TV Channels, Schedule
This year will be the sixth running of the event, with 23 nationalities competing and with the final round played around Augusta National's iconic course.
By Roderick Easdale Published
-
Augusta National Women's Amateur 2025 Picks, Odds And Predictions
The Augusta National Women's Amateur returns for a sixth time, and many of the leading female players from all over the world will do battle in Georgia
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
T-Mobile Match Play Prize Money Payout 2025
Nelly Korda defends her title as a field of 64 competes for an eye-catching purse at Nevada’s Shadow Creek Golf Club
By Mike Hall Published
-
'I Left Actually A Good Four Shots Out There' - Charley Hull Shoots Career Best LPGA Round But Had A 59 On Her Mind
Charley Hull felt a 59 was on the cards as she shot a career-best 63 at the Ford Championship, but came off the course feeling she'd left at least four shots out there
By Paul Higham Published
-
Charley Hull Makes Driver Change Ahead Of Ford Championship 63
The World No.10 moved into the new TaylorMade Qi35 LS ahead of this week's Ford Championship in Arizona, where she got off to a fast start
By Elliott Heath Published