When it comes to who the best player on the LPGA Tour has been this season, there is surely no doubt at all that Nelly Korda stands head and shoulders above almost everybody else, with the world number one winning six times earlier in the year.
Nelly Korda added a second major title to her resume as she went on a remarkable run of winning six times in seven starts. And there is no question at all that she played every bit like the world number one at the Solheim Cup with Stacy Lewis putting her out in the first match in every session she played.
Lydia Ko has made a late charge with her wins at the Olympics and the Women’s Open. But Korda is the superstar of the tour when it comes to matters on the course.
However, perhaps another name has emerged as the tour’s most valuable player when it comes attracting mainstream attention.
How Charley Hull has outshone Nelly Korda on the LPGA this season
While Charley Hull has not won on the LPGA Tour since 2022, there is no doubt that she is one of the biggest characters in the game. Hull is unique in the modern sporting world because you rarely get the sense that the 28-year-old has failed to say what is really on her mind in press conferences.
Hull also feels the benefits from smoking on the golf course. And it is because of that willingness to do things her own way that Amy Rogers has told Golf Channel that Hull has outshone Korda in one respect.
“Going into the season, especially with what happened early in the season with Nelly Korda, I think there was a lot of expectation that she was going to be that player to sort of take up that mantle. And I just don’t think that’s in her personality with what she’s kind of said and hinted at, that that’s something she’s interested in doing,” she said.
“And so, I don’t think anyone’s really gone out of their way to take up that role, but someone who’s kind of fallen into it by default has been Charley Hull. She’s been this surprise star for the LPGA this season, those videos of her on social media and the reports of her at the US Women’s Open smoking just kind of took her to this whole other level of popularity that we really haven’t seen much in the women’s game.
“It’s taken her to a different audience as well, which is always great for the LPGA to open them up to more fans as well. I don’t think she intended for this to happen, but Charley Hull has become a sneaky ambassador for women’s golf this year.”
How Korda reacted to Hull’s victory over her in the Sunday singles at the Solheim Cup
While Hull has not yet won on the LPGA Tour this year, she did manage to get the better of Korda on Sunday at the Solheim Cup.
Hull had been defeated in the opening game of the week alongside Esther Henseleit at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, with Korda and Allisen Corpuz winning 3&2. Korda was simply outrageous on the par fives all week in Gainesville. She was on the winning side for all eight of the par fives on Friday, while she was unbeaten on the longest holes across the first two days.
But Hull found her form as the week went on. So it definitely appeared to be a clash of the titans in the opening match of the Sunday singles. However, it proved to be far from close.
As Korda joked on social media after, Hull ‘smoked’ the world number one, winning 6&4. No margin of victory was bigger on the final day.
It would not be enough to inspire Europe to an incredible fightback, but it did confirm that Hull definitely has the natural talent and competitive spirit to become one of the greats of this era.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
