Korda set to defend title at Women’s PGA Championship

BETHESDA, Md.

It was just just one year in the past that Nelly Korda received the Women’s PGA Championship, securing her very first major and reaching No. 1 in the environment.

“It feels like for good back, actually,” she mentioned.

A lot has took place — each good and poor — considering that then for Korda. She also received an Olympic gold medal very last year for the U.S., but she went as a result of a four-month layoff this 12 months mainly because of health problems and only recently returned. This 7 days she defends her title at the Women’s PGA at Congressional Nation Club — on the lookout prepared to contend after a close to-victory in Michigan final week.

“I gave myself a probability last week,” she stated. “If you informed me that when I was laying in the ER, I would have certainly been extremely delighted with that.”

Korda’s year was interrupted when she felt swelling in her still left arm — a blood clot in the subclavian vein. She skipped the year’s 1st big in the California desert and and experienced medical procedures in April.

It can be unconventional for her to acquire that considerably time away, but she’s been in fantastic type considering that returning. She tied for eighth at the U.S. Women’s Open up, then dropped in a playoff at the LPGA Meijer Typical very last weekend.

“That was the longest time I feel I’ve ever gone devoid of hitting a golf ball,” Korda said. “Ever considering that I started out hitting, it is just been sort of entire throttle, and I have been practicing quite substantially. I have not taken far more than two or a few days off because then. I’m just delighted to be out listed here playing competitive golf.”

Korda states it really is been essential to remain optimistic in the aftermath of her health and fitness troubles.

“I truly feel like the much more you delight in it out there, the far better you engage in, the significantly less you get sort of ticked off, the less issues go wrong, I guess, in a sense,” she mentioned. “Since I have been again, I have designed absolutely sure that I have experienced a good perspective and relished just about every 2nd of it, and I think that is contributed to my excellent engage in.”

This week’s match, sponsored by KPMG, is doubling the measurement of its purse to $9 million, with the winner getting $1.35 million. The 6,894-yard, par-72 Congressional study course could be softened up for the initial spherical. Some thunder rolled by way of the space Wednesday, with much more rain a risk right away.

“I think KPMG and the PGA have just completed a phenomenal position of getting us on these wonderful golfing programs and actually increasing the bar for women’s golfing,” Brooke Henderson mentioned. “Very grateful for that. I have explained it a bunch, but I’m just tremendous excited to be enjoying in this article on this astounding golfing class.”

Temperature permitting, Korda is scheduled to tee off Thursday morning with Henderson and Inbee Park. That team has mixed to gain this occasion 5 periods. Park received 3 straight titles from 2013-15 right before Henderson finished that streak with a victory of her very own in 2016.

Korda enters this tournament at No. 2 in the environment powering Jin Younger Ko of South Korea. Minjee Lee of Australia is third, acquiring received the most latest main at the U.S. Women’s Open.

Jennifer Kupcho, who received major Chevron Championship, also prevailed very last 7 days in Michigan.

“It’s surely very good self-confidence,” Kupcho claimed. “I assume hitting the ball so nicely previous 7 days is actually critical. Particularly coming into a significant.”

Korda has rationale to feel assured as well. She was portion of the a few-way tie that pressured the playoff in Michigan. She seems balanced more than enough to contend at Congressional — and mentally completely ready soon after previous year’s victory at the Women’s PGA.

“I really do not feel I’ve changed a bunch in the earlier calendar year. In a sense I assume I have just become a minimal little bit more steady and confident that I can earn a big championship,” Korda mentioned. “I consider I’ve just type of learned my way close to the important championship 7 days and not to place also substantially stress on myself and to delight in just about every instant as well because a whole lot of folks emphasize important championship months so much. Maybe they set a tiny far too a lot stress on on their own when at the end of the working day you’re actively playing with the exact same girls really considerably each individual solitary 7 days.”

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