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Nelly Korda defeats Lydia Ko in the playoffs at LPGA Drive On with an eagle-birdie finish
Bradenton, Florida—Nelly Korda staged a comeback to clinch victory at the LPGA Drive On Championship in her hometown, preventing Lydia Ko from entering the LPGA Hall of Fame. Korda overcame a three-stroke deficit by finishing with an eagle-birdie, ultimately securing the win on the second hole of a playoff. She sealed the victory with a 4-foot par putt on the par-4 18th, as Ko’s 5-footer hit the lip and spun out.
“I always manage to add drama and make it interesting,” Korda commented. “So, doing it in front of a home crowd is an unparalleled feeling. What an incredible day!”
Ko secured her 20th tour victory at the season-opening Tournament of Champions in Orlando last week, bringing her within a point of Hall of Fame qualification.
“It’s like, ‘What more can you do?'” Ko expressed. “We gave our all until the very end, earning our place in the playoff. I gave my utmost effort out there.”
Starting Sunday’s play at Bradenton Country Club with a four-stroke lead over Ko, Korda posted a 2-over 73, bringing her to a total of 11-under 273, the same as Ko. Ko, who played in the group before Korda, also recorded an eagle on the par-5 17th with a score of 69.
Korda faced a setback, dropping four strokes in a span of three holes—registering a bogey on the par-4 14th, a double bogey on the par-3 15th, and another bogey on the par-4 16th. However, she mounted a comeback with an eagle putt across the green on the 17th and a precise approach to within a foot on the 18th.
“Wow, I thought the tournament was done by the time I reached the 17th,” Korda remarked. “I just gave myself an opportunity. I knew that if I made that eagle, I had to birdie the last hole.”
In the initial extra round on the 18th, Korda missed a 12-foot birdie attempt from the back fringe, while Ko managed to save par with an up-and-down from behind the green’s grandstand wall.
During the second playoff hole, Korda’s shot went long to the wall, and her chip set up the decisive putt for victory. Meanwhile, Ko, attempting a 30-foot birdie, ended up three-putting after leaving her initial putt short.
“Sure, I had a three-putt on the second playoff hole, but apart from that, I don’t feel like I lost the tournament,” Ko stated. “I had a fantastic eagle on 17, a solid par on 18, and then Nelly matched with an eagle and birdie finish.”
Fueled by the support of the home crowd, 25-year-old Korda led from start to finish, achieving her first wire-to-wire victory in her career and securing her ninth LPGA Tour win, the first since the 2022 Pelican Women’s Championship.
“Even when I was trailing, the support from the crowd was incredibly positive, keeping me motivated,” Korda expressed. “It was a real struggle out there, with a lot of ups and downs. I never felt like I gained momentum. It’s hard to believe it right now.”
Megan Khang secured the third spot at 8 under following a round of 72. Lucy Li (69) and Ayaka Furue (73) finished at 7 under.
