Nelly Korda Climbs Back Into Conversation with Friday 66 at CME Group Tour Championship

It turns out all Nelly Korda needed was some rest and relaxation to get things going again at the CME Group Tour Championship.
The Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 carded an even-par 72 in the opening round at Tiburón Golf Club, a bit of a surprisingly slow start for the 26-year-old, who has never finished worse than T19 at the season-ending event. But Korda admitted she was feeling fatigued after winning on Sunday at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican and then having a few extra pre-tournament obligations this week with the various pro-am parties and Rolex Awards that are a staple of the CME Group Tour Championship.
So Korda put a premium on rest on Thursday evening in Naples, Fla., deciding to stay in and have dinner in bed so she could recharge ahead of the second round. And considering she posted a 6-under 66 to vault up the leaderboard and into the top 10 on Friday at Tiburón Golf Club, that was exactly what the doctor ordered for the seven-time 2024 champion.
“Having the pro-am parties and then the Rolex dinner on top of that, I haven’t had any time to rest,” Korda said. “Obviously, (I’m) super grateful for that and Terry (Duffy) and everyone coming out here and supporting us. But it’s nice to have a day where you can reset mentally. Had that. Ate dinner in bed. That was great.”
Playing alongside Lexi Thompson, Korda got day two started in style, holing her second shot on the par-4 3rd hole from the right rough for eagle to move to 2-under. She then grabbed two more birdies on the front nine on the par-5 6th and par-4 9th holes to turn in 32 at 4-under overall.
The 15-time LPGA Tour winner picked up another birdie on the par-3 12th hole to climb to 5-under before carding one last birdie on the par-5 17th hole to post a 66, which ties Korda’s lowest career round in the CME Group Tour Championship, an 18-hole score she has recorded on five previous occasions, most recently during the third round last year at Tiburón Golf Club.
It was a solid bounce-back performance that has moved Korda into contention and primed her to make a charge to the top of the leaderboard over the next 36 holes. When asked what the difference was between Thursday and Friday in Naples, Fla., she attributed the quick turnaround to a small change she made to her backswing, one that helps her hinge her wrists properly and get her clubface in the correct position.
“I just couldn’t find the center of the club face yesterday, and there was something going on with my backswing that I couldn’t figure out, couldn’t get a feel for,” Korda explained. “When it gets a little windy, it’s harder. It sways you around a little bit more. So, on top of that, it was harder to find something out there. Thankfully, I have a great group of people around me and found a simple feel to go into today. Hopefully, I can keep progressing with that.”
Sitting at 6-under overall, Korda is just a few shots back of the leaders at Tiburón Golf Club, but the recently named Rolex Player of the Year has proven this season that she has no problem being a chaser. Excluding the T-Mobile Match-Play presented by MGM Rewards, Korda has trailed after 36 holes in five of the six stroke-play events she has won this season, a statistic that indicates that the $4 million winner’s check is still well within reach for the two-time major champion over the weekend in Naples, Fla.No matter what, though, with Korda lurking within striking distance, every player ahead of her will surely be looking over their shoulder as they work to stave off the hottest player in women’s golf with a historic first-place prize there for the taking.