In the vibrant setting of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Nelly Korda showcased her golfing prowess on Sunday at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba. Starting strong, Korda established an early lead, expanding it to a commanding seven shots at one point, ultimately securing a comfortable four-shot victory with a 3-under 69. This marks her third triumph of the season.
Hot on the heels of her impressive performance at the Chevron Championship, where she claimed her third major title, Korda left competitors in awe at El Camaleon. The world’s top-ranked female golfer demonstrated unparalleled precision, reinforcing her status with yet another remarkable win.
Impressively, Korda maintained a streak of 60 holes without a bogey, which only ended when it was of little consequence to her lead. On the 18th hole, with a six-shot cushion, she sent her drive astray into the dense tropical foliage, losing track of the ball. Despite the setback, she recovered by hitting a provisional into a bunker, then into the gallery, and concluded with a remarkable 20-foot putt for bogey—only her second in the entire tournament.
In a gesture of triumph, she extended her arm, offering a relaxed fist pump as she wrapped up her victory. Korda’s final score of 17-under 271 placed her four shots ahead of Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who marked her 24th birthday with a second-place finish after carding a 70. Yu Liu of China followed closely, finishing another stroke behind with a 69.
Korda stretched out her arm and casually threw her right fist with whatever energy she had left.
She finished at 17-under 271, four shots ahead Arpichaya Yubol of Thailand, who celebrated her 24th birthday with a 70 to finish alone in second. Yu Liu of China (69) was another shot back.
None had much of a chance against Korda, who became the first player since Annika Sorenstam in 2001 to start a season with nothing worse than a runner-up finish through six events.
Korda started with a three-shot lead, and then it was over. She holed a 12-foot eagle putt from the collar of the par-5 fifth hole, followed with a 10-foot birdie putt from the fringe on No. 6 and then hit a lob wedge to 4 feet for birdie on the par-5 seventh.
She didn’t need to do anything more the rest of the way, following with 10 straight pars until taking her hands off the wheel on the final hole.
Asked if she was playing the best golf of her career, Korda demurred.
“I’m just enjoying myself, and I love the competition. I love traveling to places like Mexico, all over the world. I’m just having fun,” she said.
Starting times were moved up to avoid thunderstorms moving along the coast of Mexico that look out across the Caribbean Sea. It was still steamy, and Korda doused her head with a bottle of water as she walked off the 16th tee. Nothing could cool her off.
Korda could only laugh at her blunder on the final hole that kept her from matching or surpassing her largest margin of victory, set last week with her five-shot win in Houston at a major.
“On the last hole here, I was humbled by golf,” she said. “I had a pretty smooth day, and on the last hole, just kind of like humbles you a little bit. You put in the work. Everyone out here puts in the work. Sometimes it works out.”
She now has 18 wins on the LPGA, making the 27-year-old the youngest American with 18 titles since Nancy Lopez at age 23 won her 18th in 1980.
Arkansas senior Maria Jose Marin, who delighted the crowd with her Augusta National Women’s Amateur title last month, had a 69-69 weekend to finish fifth. The top 10 would make her eligible for next week’s Mizuho Americas Open, but she has finals.
Korda is also skipping next week after two straight wins. She had talked about feeling low on energy this week, but also about making sure she was working instead of on vacation at a Mexican resort.
“I’ll enjoy a few days off,” Korda said.
