'Match Queen' Koda, LPGA 4 Consecutive Wins 'Rare Record in 16 Years'

Defeats Maguire in T-Mobile Match Play Final
4th Win of the Season, 12th Career Victory, 400 Million KRW Prize
Historic Achievement in 16 Years Since Lorena Ochoa in 2008

World No.1 Nelly Korda (USA) achieved a historic feat for the first time in 16 years.

Nelly Korda is teeing off at the 11th hole in the T-Mobile Match Play final. [Las Vegas=AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 7th (local time), at the T-Mobile Match Play final of the LPGA Tour held at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada (par 72, 6,804 yards), she defeated Leona Maguire (Ireland) by 4 holes. She claimed the winner's prize of $300,000 (about 400 million KRW) after winning four consecutive tournaments recently.

Korda triumphed at the LPGA Drive On Championship in January, followed by the Pure Silk Championship, the Ford Championship in March, and this time at the T-Mobile event, which combined stroke play and match play formats. Winning four consecutive tournaments is a rare record not seen since Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) in 2008, 16 years ago. In LPGA Tour history, only five players have recorded four or more consecutive wins: Korda, Ochoa, Mickey Wright, Nancy Lopez (all USA), and Annika Sorenstam (Sweden). Lopez achieved five consecutive wins in 1978, and Sorenstam recorded five consecutive wins between 2004 and 2005.

After defeating Anna Lin in the semifinals the day before, Korda easily overcame Maguire in the final. She secured an early lead by winning the 2nd hole (par 4) and then taking holes 5 through 7. The match concluded at the 15th hole (par 4). Korda created a birdie opportunity, and when Maguire missed her par putt, she conceded defeat. Korda confirmed her victory with three holes remaining at the 15th hole.

Maguire reached the final by decisively defeating Kim Sei-young in the semifinals but could not overcome Korda's strong performance. Known for her strength in match play, Maguire had a record of 7 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in Solheim Cup singles matches in 2021 and 2023. She failed to secure her third career win but achieved her best result of the season. South Korea, with Kim Sei-young and Anna Lin failing to reach the final, has now gone eight consecutive tournaments without a title since the season opener.