Korda's Slump Mystery... The Landscape of Women's Golf Has Changed

Seven Wins Last Year, 15 Career LPGA Titles for the Tour’s Top Star
Eight Top-10 Finishes in 17 Events This Season, but No Victories
Only One Multiple Winner, Jinno Titikun, as the LPGA Enters a Warring States Era
Neck Injury and Putting Struggles in Key Moments Lead to Championship Drought

Golf is a sport with many variables. A superstar who once dominated the tour is now suffering from a deep championship drought. This is the story of former world No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States.

Last year, Korda tied the tour record by winning the first five events of the LPGA Tour season. She secured a total of seven victories, including one major championship, and delivered overwhelming results in the 16 tournaments she entered. Her dominance was reminiscent of the "golf emperor" Tiger Woods.

Nelly Korda, who dominated the LPGA Tour last year, is experiencing a winless slump this year. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

At that time, Korda had no real rivals. Her competitors faltered on their own, and she topped all the major categories: most wins, Player of the Year (280 points), and CME points (4,368 points). She ranked second in both the money list ($4,391,930) and scoring average (69.56). The money title went to Jinno Titikun from Thailand, who won the final event of the LPGA Tour season, the Tour Championship, in November last year. By adding the $4 million winner’s prize, Titikun dramatically claimed the top spot on the money list with $6,059,309.

However, this year Korda has fallen into a slump. She has played in 17 tournaments but has yet to win a single title. Her only notable achievements are eight top-10 finishes. Her best performances this season are a runner-up finish at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in January and another second place at the US Women's Open, a major, in May. Currently, she ranks third in scoring average (69.70), sixth in CME points (1,763), seventh on the money list ($2,187,637), and tenth in the Player of the Year standings (66 points).

Nelly Korda (right) gave up her world No. 1 ranking, which she had held for 72 weeks, to Jinno Titikun. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

On August 4, as announced in the world rankings, Korda finally relinquished her No. 1 position. Her streak of 72 consecutive weeks at the top, which began on March 25 last year, came to an end. Jinno Titikun returned to the world No. 1 spot for the first time in about two years and nine months since November 2022. She currently leads Korda by 3.43 points. The LPGA Tour now has only five tournaments remaining, including the BMW Ladies Championship, which began on October 16 at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, Jeonnam.

Due to Korda's slump, the LPGA Tour is experiencing a "Warring States period" with no clear dominant player. From the season opener to the Lotte Championship, which concluded on October 4, each tournament has seen a different winner. There have been 25 consecutive events with new champions, and last week, Jinno Titikun became the only multiple winner of the season by claiming her second victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

Statistically, Korda’s performance has not declined significantly. Key metrics such as average driving distance (273.43 yards this year vs. 269.79 yards last year), fairway accuracy (70.16% vs. 75.75%), greens in regulation (73.63% vs. 76.02%), putts per round (29.62 vs. 30.02), and sand save percentage (40.51% vs. 42.65%) are similar. In fact, her driving and putting have improved this year.

The issue has been the "crucial moments." To win, both the start and finish are important, but this year Korda has struggled in both the first and final rounds. Her putts per round were 30.19 in the first round and 30.00 in the fourth round. Her average score in the fourth round was 71.07, lower than last year's 69.58. Last year, she boasted impressive putting with 29.94 putts in the first round and 29.75 in the fourth round.

Nelly Korda has failed to collect the championship trophy due to a crucial putting mistake. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

At the beginning of the season, her momentum was not bad. She started strong with a second-place finish at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and a tie for seventh at the Founders Cup, but in June, she was hit by an injury setback. During a practice round at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, a major, she injured her neck after taking a shot from the rough. She attended the press conference with muscle tape on her neck and missed the winner’s dinner due to severe spasms.

Korda was scheduled to compete in the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, a women's golf team event, at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on October 23, but withdrew due to injury. Korean-American golfer Noh Yealrim took her place. With no wins yet this season and her recent condition not improving, there is a possibility that Korda may finish the season without a victory.