Nelly Korda, who is rapidly becoming American golf’s Golden Girl, had yet another bogey-free outing Thursday at Golden Ocala.
Last week’s winner at the Gainbridge, got off to another great start and shares the first-round lead at the Drive-On Championship.
Korda’s five-birdie performance put her at the top of the leader-board with rising star Jennifer Kucho and Austin Ernst. Kupcho had four straight birdies on her front nine starting at the fourth hole and added just one coming home for her 67.
Ernst made the most birdies of the co-leaders — seven in all — but a pair of birdies brought her back to five-under for her day’s work.
But it is Korda who has garnered a lot of attention, playing well enough to rise to No. 3 in the world rankings. She has shot under par in nine straight rounds to open her 2021 season, and owns 10 consecutive under-par rounds dating back to the 2020 CME Group Tour Championship.
“I’m more about consistency,” said Korda, who hit 12-of-18 greens on day one and 10-of-14 fairways. “I know there are going to be bad rounds and you can’t play perfect every single round, but the more you minimize your mistakes and more consistent you get with your swing, figuring out what works for you, the better.”
Korda played the first round with sister Jessica and world’s No. 1 Jin Young Ko. Apparently the sister’s didn’t inspire much of a performance from Ko, who struggled mightily with a half-dozen bogeys on her card, resulting in a not-great, three-over par 75.
World’s No. 2 Sei Young Kim shot a pedestrian, two-under par 70 while Danielle Kang, who is now No. 5 in the world, shot an even-par 72.
