Nelly Korda Secures LPGA Season Opener Victory Without Playing Final Round
Nelly Korda clinched the LPGA season opener without hitting a single shot on Sunday, as the final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions was canceled due to extreme cold. Korda finished at 13 under par, following her impressive 8-under 64 on Saturday, allowing her to win by three strokes over Amy Yang and earn her first LPGA title since November 2024.
With this victory, Korda now boasts 16 career LPGA wins. She described her Saturday performance, which far surpassed the field average by over nine strokes, as a “top-3 round of my career.” Korda noted, “Thursday and Friday were completely different conditions compared to Saturday, but overall, I’m quite satisfied with how my game was shaping up.”
Cancellation of Final Round
The LPGA made the decision to cancel the final round after halting play in the third round due to high winds. Eight golfers were still on the course when play was suspended on Saturday afternoon. As temperatures plummeted overnight, the expected “feels-like” temperature for Sunday morning was in the low teens.
Player Conditions and Restart Delays
Ricki Lasky, LPGA’s chief tour business officer, reported that players felt extremely low temperatures as they prepared for a 10 a.m. restart. Despite assurances that the course had no frost, players found the ground to be “really hard,” which impacted their shot trajectories during practice.
Celebrity Division Continues
Meanwhile, in the celebrity division, participants including Mardy Fish, who emerged victorious, played a shortened nine-hole final round. Fish commented on the conditions, stating, “It felt like I was walking on concrete,” yet he managed to shoot even-par 36, winning by five points.
LPGA’s Decision on Playability
The LPGA officially canceled the final round, stating there was a lack of an “optimal competitive environment.” Despite several delays, they remained firm on the decision, prompted by concerns over temperature affecting the golf course.
Korda and Future Events
Korda is set to skip upcoming Asian events and will next compete at the Fortinet Founder Cup in mid-March. Reflecting on the cancellation, she mentioned, “I think the LPGA is always going to prioritize player safety. In the end, we can’t control these outcomes.”
