Dame Laura Davies has discussed Lydia Ko’s and Nelly Korda’s chances of winning the Women’s Open this week.
Korda says staying warm will be key to performing well at the Women’s Open, with the event taking place in Scotland’s St Andrews.
It is expected to be cold, windy and rainy in the UK as the women’s top golfers take on the major tournament.
The Women’s Open comes just after the Paris Olympics, with Korda finishing T22 in the French capital on one under.
Korda has a keychain from the Olympics, which is now on her bag as she looks to bounce back from that Paris disappointment.
Laura Davies makes Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda claim at the Women’s Open
But potentially standing in her way at St Andrews is Ko, who clinched the Olympic gold medal with a score of 10 under.
And Davies believes there is an advantage for the New Zealander in Scotland as she predicted her winner for Sky Sports Golf.
”Well one of the ones I think that has really got a good chance is recent gold medalist Lydia Ko,” said Davies. “She flights the ball so well, that’s why I wouldn’t necessarily go for Nelly.
“Nelly can win any given week, we know that, she’s won six times this year. But she hits it very high, and she’s got to change the way she hits the shots.
“Whereas Lydia, that’s part of her game, those lovely little punchy, chippy shots she hits with those… I mean it might be 200 yards and she knocks it down, keeps the rescues down. That will be a huge weapon this week.”
How have Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko done in 2024 so far?
Korda has enjoyed a roller-coaster year so far, having won five tournaments in a row, and six out of seven.
It included The Chevron Championship, but the world number one then went on to miss three successive cuts, most notably at the U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s PGA Championship.
Korda has struggled for consistency in 2024, and could find it difficult to control her game at St Andrews this week.
Ko meanwhile, who sits 12th in the world rankings, will be full of confidence following her fine display at the Olympics.
She began her season superbly with a win at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, but also missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open.
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