Well, that didn’t go to plan for Nelly Korda did it?
Korda won the Chevron Championship in 2024, after getting the better of Sweden’s Maja Stark.
The women’s World No.1 went on a tear in 2024, winning five tournaments in a row at one point, but she has struggled to emulate that form this year.
Korda has two top-10 finishes in five events to her name this season, but she still hasn’t managed to win.
It has been much harder work for her in 2025 than she has been used to before.
Korda was inspired by Rory McIlroy at The Masters to get back inside the winner’s circle. However, her 2025 major campaign got off to a terrible start on Thursday.
The 26-year-old had to sit back and watch others have their way around the Carlton Woods layout, whilst she really struggled to get anything going all day long.
Nelly Korda makes equipment change after disastrous 77 at The Chevron Championship
Korda ended the day a massive 12 shots behind joints leaders Yan Liu and Haeran Ryu.
She will have to go low on Friday just to make the cut, let alone force her way back into contention to win.
Korda spoke to reporters after her round on Thursday:
“I just have to go work. I mean, I’m not hitting it well,” the 26-year-old said. “That’s about it.”
“Go in and practice and see where it takes me.”
And the thing that caught everyone’s eye was the fact that Korda changed one club in her bag as she worked hard after her opening round 77.
The World No.1 was seen grinding on the practice green with a new putter.
Korda used a new blade putter in her opening round of five-over par, one that she put in her bag last week.
However, after she had 33 putts to get around The Club at Carlton Woods, she made a change immediately after her round.
Korda was on the practice green with her old mallet shaped putter, and she will be hoping that the switch enables her to fire a super-low round on Friday.
Tiger Woods hit one shot that made Korda call him The Goat immediately
Tiger Woods and Korda took part in a clinic for Taylor Made earlier this week.
They focused on helping players improve their games inside 100 yards.
And there was a moment when Korda was blown away by something that Woods did.
Korda called the 15-time major champions ‘The Goat’ after he hit what he likes to call a ‘spinny flop shot’ to around an inch from the hole.
It really was a truly incredibly shot Woods.
Korda could use some of that magic out in Texas on Friday when she attempts to force her way back inside the cut-line at The Chevron Championship.
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