The world number ones on both the men’s and women’s sides of the game have had the most remarkable seasons, with Nelly Korda certainly giving Scottie Scheffler a run for his money with what she achieved early on in the year.
Nelly Korda cemented her place at the top of the world rankings by winning six times in seven starts before the end of May. Of course, the high point came as she won her second major title, winning the Chevron Championship in April.
Korda would then endure a tougher period, missing the cut at both US Women’s Open and the Women’s PGA Championship. But a tied second finish at the Women’s British Open proved to be an ominous sign for the Europeans ahead of the Solheim Cup.
Stacy Lewis spoke of her regret at not putting Korda higher up the order in Spain one year ago as USA missed out on regaining the Solheim Cup in a tied match. But she certainly did not make that same mistake at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Edoardo Molinari stunned by Nelly Korda’s stats off the tee
The 26-year-old went out in the top match in all four sessions she played as USA did get their hands on the trophy. Korda was particularly ruthless on the par fives, going unbeaten on the longest holes over the first two days. In fact, USA won all eight par fives Korda played on day one.
Perhaps that record will not have come as a surprise to Edoardo Molinari, who does lots of work on stats and data. Speaking on Fried Egg Golf about the strengths in Korda’s game, the Italian suggested that he was taken aback when he first saw her numbers.
“Someone like Nelly is incredibly accurate off the tee with driver. She hits it longer than her competitors, but she’s straighter than anything I’ve ever seen. I remember after the first few events, I got all the data and created a report and I had to check the data a couple of times because I thought there’s no way she’s hitting that many fairways, there’s something wrong,” he said.
“But she’s a driving machine, she’s very good also with approach play. I remember last year talking to her caddie and she was a little bit like Scottie, like you could see the potential in Scottie, and the putting was letting him down, and Nelly was kind of similar. As soon as she has an average or a good putting week, it’s almost impossible for her to finish outside the top three. So she’s an unbelievable golfer.”
The challenge the world number one now faces
Golf always needs figures like Korda; players who almost need the scale to be reworked for them. It was fantastic to see just how dominant Scheffler could be on the PGA Tour this year, winning eight times worldwide – including a second major.
And it was a similar story for Korda, with six wins including a second major. She will almost be disappointed with her mixed record in the majors, and the fact that she has not added another win since May.
She appears to be one of those players who will inspire so many younger fans, because ultimately, every casual player wants to hit the ball longer and straighter.
Her next challenge is to sustain her dominance in 2024 over the next few years, particularly in an era where there are so many outstanding players in the game, including Lydia Ko who has rediscovered her best form this season.
But clearly, Korda is the one setting the standard right now, particularly off the tee.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
