Nelly Korda still rusty after coming back from injury, misses cut at KPMG Women’s PGA
Nelly Korda was among the notable names to miss the cut at this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a major she won in 2021. After missing the cut at the Cognizant Founders Cup last month, the eight-time LPGA winner took a month off to recuperate from a back injury.
Considering that Korda’s had an excellent year otherwise, fans were hoping that the 24-year-old golfing sensation would be fully recuperated in time for the major at the challenging Baltusrol golf course. However, a bogey-riddled two days left the Florida native with an ending score of plus 11, with signs of rusty play from her recuperation period.
She clocked in six bogeys and only one birdie on Thursday. Day two only compounded her problems, finishing at 77, with a double bogey on hole three sealing her fate. In addition to coming back from injury, Korda started working with a new instructor, Jason Baile, just over a week ago.
Upcoming events will determine if the reigning Olympic gold medalist is fully recovered from back injury, if the instructor partnership with Baile is paying off and if further preparation will pay off further down the road.
Nelly Korda began working with Jason Baile, director of instruction at Jupiter Hills, about a week and a half ago. Baile is with her this week at Baltusrol. Story coming soon! pic.twitter.com/W5503O2o7O
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) June 20, 2023
“I honestly wouldn’t be playing if I wasn’t 100 percent,” said Korda at the outset of KPMG.
Prior to the break, Korda had shown every sign that she was on the brink of collecting another major. Having come in T3 at the last one, the Chevron Championship, Korda had also consistently placed T6 throughout the year, including a T5 at the LA Open, second place at HSBC and T4 at HGV.
Her last win occurred at the Annika Driven tournament last November.
.@NellyKorda making time for fans at the @KPMGWomensPGA. pic.twitter.com/gOck2BhO49
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) June 22, 2023
Korda was joined by Atthaya Thitikul, one of the most exciting players on tour, who also missed the cut at ten over.
