The domination of Nelly Korda on the LPGA Tour has come to an end!
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Nelly Korda is the most in-form player on the planet but back-to-back 73s on the weekend at the Cognizant Founders Cup ended her hopes of breaking the record for the most consecutive victories on the LPGA Tour
Following victory at the 2024 Chevron Championship, Nelly Korda joined illustrious company as only the third golfer in the history of the LPGA Tour to win five consecutive tournaments. The only two LPGA stars to have achieved this before Korda are Annika Sorenstam in 2004-2005 and Nancy Lopez in 1978.
There had only been five golfers in history to win five or more consecutive tournaments before the World No.1 conquered all in Texas to become a two-time Major Champion. The five golfers the American joined are Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, Tiger Woods (on three separate occasions), Ben Hogan (1948), and Byron Nelson (1945).
Korda took the week off and missed the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro in order to prepare for the Cognizant Founders Cup. However, a quality Rose Zhang performance prevented Nelly Korda from making it six wins in a row and breaking the record on the LPGA Tour for the most consecutive victories.
When did this streak begin? At the end of January, the 25-year-old was teeing off in her first tournament of the 2024 season, the LPGA Drive On Championship. That week a stellar performance saw Korda overcome Lydia Ko in a two-hole playoff – I wonder if she knew at that point she would be winning her fifth consecutive tournament three months later.
The then World No.2 took a two-month break from golf to spend time with family, particularly her sister Jessica Korda and her newborn son, Greyson. Auntie Nelly returned to the golf course in time for the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship where she dispatched Ryan O’Toole on the first extra playoff hole to win back-to-back events and reclaim the World No.1 spot from Lilia Vu.
The very next week the TaylorMade staffer stepped onto the golf course in Arizona for the Ford Championship presented by KCC and after the four rounds she had earned her third consecutive victory winning by two shots over Australia’s Hira Naveed.
Another week came around on the LPGA Tour’s schedule, and another win was waiting for Korda. By this point, I was skeptical she could win four in a row given how competitive the LPGA Tour is, but I was happily proven wrong after five long days of golf! The fourth win of Korda’s incredible run of form came at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards where she defeated Leona Maguire 4&3 in the Championship Match.
The LPGA Tour took a week off before The Chevron Championship and Korda was able to take a well-deserved rest before heading to Texas to tie the longest winning streak in the LPGA Tour’s history. Could that week have made anyone prepare more to deny the most in-form player in the world? Apparently not!
After the conclusion of The Chevron Championship, we were discussing Korda’s brilliance having won five consecutive tournaments after beating Maja Stark by two shots, and how good of a chance she had of making it six and breaking the record. We witnessed utter domination and I would love to see it reoccur – I definitely wouldn’t put it past Nelly Korda.
“It’s just been a crazy, crazy, crazy couple of weeks, with some really solid golf. I can finally breathe,” said Korda after lifting the Dinah Shore Trophy for her victory at The Chevron Championship.
“I was really nervous on that back nine. I really, really wanted this win. It feels amazing to get it.
“It’s been an amazing time. Hopefully, I’ll keep the streak alive. But I’ve been so grateful to compete week in and week out and get the five in a row.”
Byron Nelson holds the record for the most consecutive victories with 11 – I may have been getting a little ahead of myself thinking that record was in danger! Winning five tournaments on the spin is nothing to scoff at especially given how competitive the LPGA Tour is. It’s an incredible achievement that belongs in the record books.
It’s widely documented just how much Scottie Scheffler is dominating the men’s game. Still, Korda is undoubtedly the most dominant golfer on the planet right now – she has earned more than $2 million dollars quicker than any player on the LPGA Tour ever has in history, in the space of a month the 25-year-old went from being 97.05 points behind Lilia Vu (March 18) in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings to being 165.66 points ahead of Lilia Vu (April 22). Her closest challenger for first place in the Race To CME Globe Rankings at the time was Lydia Ko who sat 1,559.742 points behind Korda following the conclusion of The Chevron Championship. From her five consecutive victories on the LPGA Tour this season, the American notched up 2,702 world ranking points.
We witnessed greatness and like all good things, they sadly have to come to an end. But who knows, Korda or someone else could go on another run this season!
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About the author
James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer
James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.
He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.
James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.
You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.