As quick as Nelly Korda’s 2024 U.S. Women’s Open began, it was over. The world No. 1 signed for a 10-over 80 to open play Thursday at Lancaster Country Club, the highest round in relation to par of her LPGA career. As such, she effectively played her way out of the championship.
The round marks Korda’s second straight 80 in the U.S. Open as she finished last year’s championship at Pebble Beach with an 8-over 80. And it truly was over just a few holes after it started Thursday.
Korda’s day opened in so-so fashion with a bogey on her first hole, the par-4 10th, and a par on the next. Then she stepped to the tee on the difficult downhill par-3 12th and drove her ball long of the green. Having initially skirted the water hazard lining the front of the green, Korda may have thought the hardest shot on the hole was out of the way, but it was only just beginning.
Her second from the back greenside bunker found the water on the other side of the front pin location and forced her to take relief from an uncomfortable position. Needing to drop in front of the green but on the other side of the hazard, Korda sunk her championship chances when she hit not one but two more balls in the water from the downhill lie….
