World No 1 Nelly Korda made an impressive return to LPGA Tour action after a two-month absence to finish the opening round of The Annika within two shots of the lead.
Korda, whose last competitive golf came at the Solheim Cup in September after her most recent LPGA Tour outing in August, shot a bogey-free seven-under par round of 63 at Pelican Golf Club in Florida.
Korda trails Japan’s Minami Katsu and Korean Hye-Jin Choi by two shots, with fellow American Lindy Duncan also ahead of her on eight under after making a hole-in-one during her 62.
“It was nice to kind of feel those juices flowing again, especially playing with Hye-Jin who just had a great round today,” Korda said.
She already has clinched LPGA player of the year based on points, and Korda can qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame with a victory in one of the final two events of the season.
Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup and Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez are the top two Europeans as they sit in a group of four players tied for fifth on six under.
England’s Lottie Woad and Ireland’s Leona Maguire are part of a group of 11 players tied for ninth on five under, which also includes Spain’s Carlota Ciganda.
England’s Lottie Woad made a solid start
Charley Hull, who sits eighth, a place behind compatriot Woad in the world rankings, finished a shot further back on four under.
Allisen Corpuz joined Duncan in carding a hole-in-one at the par-three third hole, but was only able to post three-under par.
Co-leader Choi, coming off a strong Asia swing that included a pair of runner-up finishes, is looking for her first LPGA title in five years as a member. Her game travelled well from Asia to the Gulf Coast of Florida, with birdies on half her holes for 63.
Katsu played in the afternoon and ran off three straight birdies late in her round to catch Choi at 61.
Charley Hull is five shots off the lead
Choi said she can struggle with the Florida grass, especially around the greens. That wasn’t a problem on Thursday when she hit 17 greens in regulation.
Katsu also played bogey-free as she tries to become the sixth Japanese player to win on the LPGA Tour this year.
So much attention was on Korda, who captured two majors early in the season. Her last tournament was the FM Championship outside Boston and then the Solheim Cup, where Korda went 2-1-1 in an American loss in the Netherlands.
“I needed to take that break, and right after Solheim I was burned out,” Korda said. “I just needed to mentally step away for a few days.”
She typically skips the Asia swing, early and late in the year, and then gears up for the final two LPGA events in Florida.
Korda has four wins this year, but not since the big one – her first US Women’s Open title in early June at Riviera. She leads the Race to CME Globe, although next week at the Tour Championship any of the 60 players in the field can become the season champion who gets a $2m prize.
Also at stake for Korda this week is a chance to surpass Annika Sorenstam, the tournament host, on the career money list.
“What drives me is the competitive tournament that I’m in currently,” Korda said. “I want to do the best that I possibly can where I currently am.”
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