GAINESVILLE, Virginia – Nelly Korda is the No. 1 player in the world – and not bad with a partner, either.
Korda became the first American woman in Solheim Cup history to win both of her matches on the first day by at least three holes.
She and Megan Khang defeated Europeans Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire 6 and 4 in four-ball matches in the afternoon. Korda and Allisen Corpuz had previously defeated Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit 3 and 2 in four-ball matches.
After winning the opening game 3-1, it didn’t take long for the USA to pick up another point.
Just after 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the stands at the first tee were full and former President Barack Obama led them out of the tunnel, with Korda and Khang overrunning their European counterparts.
They were inspired and energetic from the start (Khang even skipped along the edge of the first hole), and they were dominant.
After winning the third hole to gain an initial advantage, Korda and Khang won the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth holes to move 5-all ahead. After losing the ninth hole by birdie, Korda drove through the green on the 277-yard par-4 10th hole.th and needed two putts from the fringe to win the hole.
She showed her strength again on the par-5 hole 12.thwhere she hit a 5-iron less than 5 feet and allowed an eagle. This put the American 6th in the lead. Both Korda and Khang had the chance to decide the match on hole 13, but they failed to do so.
Regardless, this just allowed Korda to show off even more.
Play the par 5 hole 14thShe hit a 4-hybrid to 7 feet, earning her another eagle and officially capping the match. Korda won all eight par 5s she played on Friday.
“That was kind of the motto. I would go out and throw the ball first, and I knew if I hit it the wrong way, I’d have a really good partner next,” Korda said after her win with the better ball.
“Nelly doesn’t miss it very often,” Khang added. “At No. 10, they moved the tee up and Nelly asked, ‘Do you want to change the order?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not. I think it works pretty well.'”
Korda, who is looking to be part of a winning team for the first time in four attempts, has a 9-4-1 record in her Solheim Cup career.
