Nelly Korda battled her way to a two-under-par round of 70 on day two of the Olympics – but things could’ve been so much better for the world number one.
Korda sits six shots back of leader Morgane Metraux, who carded a brilliant 66 at Le Golf National. Overnight pacesetter Céline Boutier couldn’t replicate her Thursday heroics, shooting 76 to fall down the leaderboard.
Lilia Vu and Rose Zhang make up the American trio, and both are inside the top 15, along with Korda.
Korda claimed her game was trending upward before the Olympics, and things looked positive before she reached the 16th tee on Thursday.
Nelly Korda suffers nightmare 16th hole at Le Golf National
The American hasn’t had the best of luck on par-threes in 2024. During the Women’s US Open at Lancaster Country Club, Korda stunned golf fans after making a ten on the par-three 12th.
And the par-three 16th at Le Golf National could prove the 26-year-old’s downfall this weekend.
Korda was six under for the day and just two shots back of the lead as she made her way to the 136-yard hole. After finding the water with her tee shot, the American then plugged her ball into the greenside bunker from the drop zone. Korda would then find the back of the green with her fourth before eventually making seven.
The damaging quadruple bogey saw her fall out of contention, and now Korda has explained exactly what happened.
“I was 6-under to that point, and I just hit my shot a little out right and a little heely,” Korda told the media. “I was a little hesitant being in between clubs. Just hit a really poor wedge shot, and I was plugged into the bunker. Those bunkers are really firm, and when I tried to be a little aggressive with it, my ball just shot to the back of the green.”
The 26-year-old added: “Just a series of unfortunate events happened in a row, but I ended on a birdie and made a wonder put after leaving myself in not the easiest of positions on the right side of the green, having to go through almost through the sprinkler heads. Overall, I still shot under par. I’m going to try and take the positive.”
Nelly Korda could end up regretting lapse of concentration on the 16th at Le Golf National
The short par-three 16th was ranked one of the easiest holes on the course during the second round, and only one player made a triple bogey or worse: Korda.
There were six birdies and 49 pars made on Thursday. The average score on the 16th was a touch over par, which means Korda lost nearly four shots on the field.
After what happened at the US Open, the American needs to buck this worrying trend. Birdies and eagles are at a premium at the elite level, which means shots cannot be given back with such ease.
However, as Korda mentions, she’s still in with a shot of making the podium and more than capable of going low around the 2018 Ryder Cup venue.
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