Lancaster: World number one Nellie Korda’s hopes of a third major title were dashed in an impressive first round at the US Women’s Open on Thursday, as former champion Kaukauka Saso overcame brutal conditions to take a one-shot lead.
Korda came to Lancaster Country Club, Pennsylvania as the favorite after winning six of his past seven starts, including his first major of the year at the Chevron Championship in April.
But the 25-year-old American faced an uphill battle to make the cut after a 10-over 80, the highest score of her career on the LPGA Tour, with 18 holes to play.
Heading into the back nine, Korda went up in smoke after going 10-under par on the par-3 12th hole. Still, with six bogeys and three birdies, Korda finished the day 139th, 12 strokes ahead.
“I didn’t want to shoot 80 and I just faked it,” Korda said. “I’m human. I’m going to have a bad day. I’ve played a lot of golf so far. Today is just a bad day. That’s all I can say.”
Korda opened the circle with a par 11 on his first hole on the 10th, then had to wait a long time before the dreaded 10 on the 12th.
After watching one opponent hit the tee and another green, it was Cord’s turn to hit the 12th on the 161st, over the green and into a bunker 53 feet from the hole.
Korda dived to the green, but the second shot rolled off the far side and into the green in front of the green.
After going down in the penalty area, Korda sent the next two shots into the water and stayed in the penalty area where he attempted the eighth goal.
From there, he put the ball eight yards from the hole and putt two over 10.
He added bogeys on the par-4 15th and par-3 17th to reach 10-over 45, before playing his front nine – his second nine of the day – for par.
Saso leads US Women’s Open after Korda meltdown
