PHOENIX – Nelly Korda demonstrated exceptional form even amidst Friday’s more challenging afternoon conditions, carding a 7-under 65 to record the best 36-hole total of her LPGA Tour career and establish a two-shot advantage at the midway point of the Ford Championship.
Korda narrowly missed an opportunity to widen her lead further late in the round, failing to convert a 2-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th hole.
Nevertheless, it was an outstanding day on the Cattail course at Whirlwind Golf Club. She followed up her impressive opening round – a feat Lydia Ko couldn’t replicate – with a consistent display of birdie opportunities and a confident touch on the greens with her putter.
“I have left a couple shots out there at the end,” Korda admitted. “But I’m playing really solid golf, and when I do make a mistake, I try not to let it faze me too much.”
Her total stood at 16-under 128, placing her two strokes ahead of a familiar competitor. Hyo Joo Kim, the reigning champion in Phoenix, secured victory just last week at the Founders Cup, fending off Korda in the decisive final hours. Korda’s miss of a crucial short putt on the 17th hole that Sunday had dashed her hopes of a second consecutive win to start the year.
Kim, who commenced the tournament with a 61, managed to overcome some early errors to post a 69. Saturday will mark the fourth straight round that Korda and Kim will play together in the same group.
“Just getting sick of each other now,” Korda quipped with a laugh. “Yeah, she’s playing such solid golf. At the end of the day that’s something that motivates me to want to stay with her at that level. We’re just going back and forth, so it’s nice. At the end of the day we’re competitors, but we are very friendly. I’ve always enjoyed playing with her. I’m always mesmerized by her putting.”
Ko had carded a 60 in the gentler morning conditions of the first round and felt her play wasn’t significantly different on Friday – save for putts that veered away at the last moment or grazed the hole’s edge. While she holed numerous putts in her opening round, she managed only enough on Friday for a 71, leaving her three shots back alongside Jenny Bae (65) and Minami Katsu (66).
Her final hole perfectly encapsulated her day: a strong drive, a good approach, and a 12-foot putt that looked destined for the cup until it subtly peeled away to the right.
“I just didn’t really hole many putts today,” Ko stated. “It’s obviously harder to get closer to the pins just playing in the afternoon and the greens being a little firmer. I think I struggled with a couple of the short ones. … But that’s golf, right? I can’t control everything. Yesterday was I think more of the surprise I think just shooting a score like that.”
Despite the putting woes, she remained firmly in contention, and Ko expressed confidence that her performance would ultimately balance out.
“I feel like my game is trending in the right direction,” she added.
Asterisk Talley, the 17-year-old amateur, delivered a 65 to join a group six shots behind at 10 under. Talley is set to travel to Augusta National next week to compete in the Women’s Amateur, an event she nearly won last year.
Scoring has been exceptionally low, particularly during the morning sessions on smoother greens, leading to a cut line of 5-under 135. Notable players who missed the weekend included Japan’s Women’s British Open champion Miyu Yamashita and Lexi Thompson, who was making her first start of the season.
Korda secured victory in the season opener in Florida, a tournament shortened to 54 holes due to severe wind and cold. She opted to skip the Asia swing, as is her custom, and finished as runner-up to Kim last week at Sharon Heights in Northern California.
“I’m really happy where my game is at now,” Korda remarked.