She’s a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, but defending Gainbridge LPGA champion Nelly Korda was the first to point out a unique fact during her press conference on Wednesday at Boca Rio Golf Club.
“I’ve actually never defended at the same golf course,” said Korda.
Korda finished in a tie for 28th when the Tour made the stop in Boca Raton two years ago. The Rolex Rankings No. 1 mentioned the course is playing different this week than what she remembers, but that there’s still an advantage for certain players.
That would be a correct statement, at least until she tees it up at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich., this June.
“I guess in a sense, expectations are a little lower because you were defending at a different golf course, but I’m just going to embrace it and see where it takes me,” Korda said.
“I think there is an advantage to hitting it longer out here, but I think the greens are a little bit slower [than 2020] and they’re trying to keep them slower because the wind forecast is supposed to be really high Friday afternoon and Saturday,” said Korda, a four-time LPGA winner in 2021 and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist. “The fairways are a little bit fluffier than they were last time, so I think they’re trying to play towards the weather forecast.
“But I do see a big advantage to hitting it longer. All depends on the wind and the forecast we’re going to have.”
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