Nelly Korda is T3 as she chases history. But she’s also 11 back

If Nelly Korda is going to win her sixth LPGA begin in a row, one thing nobody has ever performed earlier than, she’ll have so as to add one other document too.

To win the Cognizant Founders Cup Sunday, Korda must full an 11-stroke comeback win, which might break the document for the biggest 54-hole comeback on the LPGA Tour.

Korda, the No. 1 Player within the World and winner of her final 5 begins, shot a third-round 73 Saturday at Upper Montclair Country Club, falling effectively behind in a single day leaders Rose Zhang and Madelene Sagstrom. Starting the day 4 away from Korda in third, Sagstrom posted a 66 whereas Zhang got here residence with 67 to take a seat and 19 and 18 beneath, respectively. The pair will begin the ultimate spherical in a real two-horse race as they’re 10 photographs away from the remainder of the sphere.

Korda is amongst a bunch of three at eight beneath after posting 4 bogeys on her entrance 9 to observe up a bogey-free 66 Friday throughout which she missed only one inexperienced. On Saturday, her ball putting was nonetheless good, however 34 putts took her out of the hunt for her record-breaking win.

“It’s just kind of poor in all aspects, Korda said. “Yesterday was good in everything and today was poor in everything, so that’s just pretty much golf for you. Just made too many kind of stupid, silly mistakes, which was unfortunate because they were playing so well. So now there is just a massive gap.”

No participant has ever come back from a final-round deficit of greater than 10 photographs. A ten-shot comeback has occurred 3 times, most not too long ago by Louise Friberg on the 2008 Mastercard Classic. Annika Sorenstam, with whom Korda shares the document for 5 consecutive wins, also made a 10-shot comeback on the 2001 Office Depot hosted by Amy Alcott.

“I think I’ve played really good golf the past couple months,” Korda mentioned. “I’m human, so I’m going to have bad days. I’m not going to feel 100% out here mentally, physically, or whatever, but I’m going to give it my all. It was just one of those days where it felt like a constant battle and didn’t really play too well, but I fought until the end.”

Even having pulled away from Korda on Saturday, Sagstrom was nonetheless in awe of what she’s performed to begin the season. She began shaking her head when requested about her.

(*11*) Sagstrom mentioned. “I think she very well deserved that streak that she’s been on. It’s been incredible to watch and I think that all of us are just trying to do something a little bit like — can I win one? That’s a good start.”

Both Sagstrom and Zhang, who in search of their second LPGA victory on Sunday, placed on a clinic Saturday, seemingly feeding off one another as they took management of the occasion.

But the 31-year-old Swede was cautious to say it wasn’t a match-play state of affairs and the ultimate spherical received’t be both.

“It’s really hard to try to react to somebody else’s game,” she mentioned. “I did say it earlier, you have to try to find your own momentum. I have to find my own game. Not trying to react if she makes birdies or bogeys. Just more really go out and trying to hit the best shots that I can do over each opportunity that I have.”

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf crew and not too long ago returned to this system to serve as head coach. Jack also nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Before becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, however also producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He might be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.