Will World No.1 Koda Succeed in Winning 4 Consecutive Tournaments?

Chasing 4th Season Win at T-Mobile Match Play
Incredible Form with 3 Wins in 4 Tournaments This Year
Format Changed to Mix of Stroke and Match Play

‘Number 1’ Nelly Korda (USA) aims for her fourth consecutive tournament victory.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda

The LPGA Tour T-Mobile Match Play (total prize money $2 million), held over five days starting from the 3rd (local time) at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada (Par 72, 6,804 yards), is a fierce battleground. Korda has been dominating the tour in the early part of this year. Including her win at last week's Ford Championship, she has already secured three victories. These results come from just four tournaments this year. She has earned 9.48 world ranking points, maintaining her lead in first place. She is ahead by 2.89 points from second-ranked Lilia Vu (6.59 points, USA).

Korda welcomes the changed format. The risk of early elimination has decreased. This tournament was held last year under the name Bank of Hope Match Play, but this year both the tournament name and competition format have been changed. It is a format combining stroke play and match play. Ninety-six players compete in the first and second rounds (36 holes) using stroke play. The top 65 players (including ties) advance to the third round. Then, the top 8 players are determined through an 18-hole stroke play round. From the fourth day onward, the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are played in match play format.

Korean players have been suffering from a seven-tournament winless streak since the season opener. Fourteen Korean players are participating in this tournament. 2022 match play champion Ji Eun-hee leads the group. Along with Kim Hyo-joo and Lee Mi-hyang, who competed for the title at last week's Ford Championship, Yu Hae-ran, Shin Ji-eun, Choi Hye-jin, Kim Se-young, and Jeon In-ji are also participating. They are determined to stop Korda’s momentum and secure the season’s first victory.

Lydia Ko (New Zealand) plans to achieve her second win of the season and accumulate points for Hall of Fame induction. Celine Boutier (France), Minjee Lee (Australia), Brooke Henderson (Canada), Alison Lee, and Rose Zhang (both USA) are also competing, dreaming of collecting the winner’s trophy. Defending champion Pajaree Anannarukarn (Thailand) aims for a consecutive second victory.