One of the defining images from the 2024 Solheim Cup in years to come will surely prove to be the sight of Nelly Korda dancing from the tunnel towards the first tee ahead of her singles clash with Charley Hull as USA closed in on their first victory since 2017.
Despite Charley Hull comfortably beating Nelly Korda at Robert Jones Trent Golf Club, there is absolutely no question at all that the world number one was one of the players to steal the show in Gainesville.
Korda won all three of her matches over the first two days of the Solheim Cup, with Stacy Lewis trusting her to go out in match one in every single session she played throughout the week.
Personally, Korda has only won more points in one previous appearance – her debut in the event in 2019 – while her foursomes partnership with Allisen Corpuz has a flawless record from their four matches together. Nevertheless, Sunday marked the first time Korda could call herself a Solheim Cup winner.
Nelly Korda compares Solheim Cup win with her previous victories
Of course, it has been an unbelievable year for Korda, with six wins coming before the end of May. So she is perhaps the ideal player to ask how much winning the Solheim Cup means in comparison with some of the other events on tour.
And speaking in her press conference ahead of the Kroger Queen City Championship this week, Korda was indeed asked where the win in Virginia ranks in her career.
“It’s just so different playing in a team environment, so it’s really hard to compare the two,” she said.
“Definitely a little bit more fun I would say, I feel like you saw a lot of the girls fist-pumping a lot more, pumping up the crowd, smiling and laughing because at the end of the day, it’s just so different having a teammate out there that you can have fun with and, in a sense, also rely on, and it’s just a little bit less pressure and a lot more fun, so definitely one of the best feelings I’ve had on a golf course, playing with a teammate, but they’re just so different.”
US team able to enjoy amazing week due to the foundations put in place by their captain
Many noticed a difference in Korda during the Solheim Cup, with the 26-year-old really embracing the team format after perhaps struggling at times to live up to the tag of being world number one once her unbelievable winning streak came to an end.
Lewis obviously deserves so much credit, with the American team looking like a well-oiled machine for much of the week. They were certainly on hand to capitalise on the potential frailties within the European team.
- READ MORE: Nelly Korda replies to Charley Hull’s Instagram post after their Solheim Cup singles clash
Obviously, the narrative could have been so different had a couple of matches ended differently and Europe had produced yet another stunning comeback to keep hold of the trophy. And questions would have been asked of Korda after her heavy defeat to Hull in the top match in the singles.
But it should not be forgotten that the US showed tremendous heart to get themselves across the line when it appeared that the momentum was swaying in Europe’s direction later on Sunday.
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