Korda silences the “outside voices”
Menu
Korda silences the “outside voices”
Mark McGowan
|
22nd April 2024
|

Nelly Korda takes her celebratory leap at Carlton Woods (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Latest Stories
McIlroy in line for dramatic return to PGA Tour’s Policy Board
Courtown Golf Club win Allianz Officers Challenge in Carlow
Golf Ireland News, Latest News
Horschel back in the winners’ circle in Dominican Republic
Korda in a class of her own as she captures major number two and five-in-a-row
Nelly Korda was shivering when she joined the media for the winner’s press conference at the Chevron Championship, and the reason for this was her celebration leap into the pond beside the 18th green at Carlton Woods.
Before moving to the Houston venue from Mission Hills in California, it became customary for the tournament winner, caddie and any of the other close associates either happy enough – or desperately craving attention enough – to take a run and jump into the lake. The tournament may have moved venue, but the tradition has carried over. Not that I’d be in any hurry to leap in myself. Alligator netting in the water is supposed to remove the risk of having a limb torn off, but since alligators also have four legs and can easily take a detour on land, I think I’d rather bask in the glory of winning my second major title and a record tying fifth consecutive LPGA Tour win from the safe confines of dry land.
But kudos to Korda, in she leapt, and though it didn’t really show on what appeared to be a back nine victory procession, she admitted that she’d been feeling the heat prior to feeling the cold.
“Well, one, I’m shivering right now, so I’m a little cold,” she told the press. “It’s just been a crazy, crazy, crazy couple of weeks, with some really solid golf. I can finally breathe.
“I was really nervous on that back nine. I really, really wanted this win. It feels amazing to get it.”
In total, there were five who took the victory plunge and Korda paid tribute to their efforts in helping her overcome a tough couple of years after seemingly becoming poised to become the dominant player in the women’s game back in 2021.
“Yeah, in ’21 I had an amazing year, got my first major at KPMG,” she said. “Just a lot of doubt crept into my mind in 2022 and especially 2023. I heard some outside voices from other people saying that they don’t know if I’ll ever be able to win another major again, and I stuck to working extremely hard on and off the golf course, and I’m so thankful to have the team that I do.
“They’ve gone through all the highs and lows with me, especially Jason. I just can’t be more thankful for the hard work that each one of them put into it.”
Having had five holes of round three to complete plus the regular final 18 on Sunday, it’s little surprise that she’s exhausted, particularly after the mental grind of closing out a major championship along with the additional incentive of equalling the streak record, but she’s not planning on taking a rest and all eyes will be on the Florida native when she goes for what would be a history book rewriting sixth consecutive title in L.A. next week.
“Yeah,” she replied when asked if she still intended to play at the JM Eagle LA Championship. “I’m going to enjoy this right now and then I’ll think about that. But yeah, it’s been an amazing time. Hopefully keep the streak alive. But I’ve been so grateful to compete week in and week out and get the five in a row, too.”
