Orlando: American golfer Nelly Korda claimed victory at the LPGA season-opening Tournament of Champions in Orlando, triumphing despite challenging weather conditions that led to the cancellation of the final round.
According to BBC, Korda, who completed her third round on Saturday, faced freezing and blustery conditions at the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club. The brutal weather forced players to wear ear muffs and ski caps to cope with the cold. Korda described her performance on the last two holes of her eight-under-par round of 64 as among the hardest she has experienced in her professional career.
The two-time major champion held a three-shot lead over South Korea's Amy Yang, who was among the six players needing to finish their round on Sunday. Yang made par on her remaining two holes, scoring a 69 to finish at 10 under par, three shots behind Korda.
The weather continued to impact the players' abilities to practice effectively, with hard ground affecting the trajectory of their shots. Ricki Lasky, LPGA chief tour business and operations officer, explained that despite efforts to complete all 72 holes, the decision was made to conclude the tournament after 54 holes due to ongoing adverse weather and forecasts of further bad weather on Monday.
Canada's Brooke Henderson secured third place with a seven-under score following a third-round 66 on Saturday. For Korda, this victory marked her 16th LPGA title and her first since November 2024. Reflecting on her success, the 27-year-old expressed her motivation and anxiety during the competition, particularly while awaiting the final decision on the tournament's conclusion.