Korda’s Early Exit at Evian
Nelly Korda, the top-ranked golfer, concluded her participation in the Evian Championship early, missing the cut after the second round. This marks an end to her bid for a third consecutive major title this season. Korda’s performance included an opening round of 74 on Thursday, followed by an improved 69 on Friday. Her combined total of 1-over left her tied for 67th place, missing the cut by a single stroke. The last time Korda missed a cut was at the 2024 Women’s PGA Championship.
Despite winning the first two majors of the current season, the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, Korda has historically found the Evian Championship challenging. Her best finish at this event has been eighth place. During the first round, Korda struggled, finishing 11 shots behind the leader with a 3-over 74. Her round included a double bogey six on the first hole, which was her tenth hole of play.
Woad Secures Second Round Lead
While Korda faced an early exit, English golfer Lottie Woad delivered a strong performance, carding a 7-under 64 in the second round to claim a one-stroke lead. Woad’s impressive round featured eight birdies and only one bogey. This performance brought her overall score to 11 under at the halfway point of the tournament, which is the fourth of the five women’s majors scheduled for this year.
Woad attributed her success to consistent ball striking. She noted that hitting a lot of fairways and greens is crucial on this course, as getting into trouble off the tee can make play very difficult. Her driver, she explained, was performing well, allowing her to have many wedge shots and opportunities for birdies.
Tournament Overview and Other Contenders
Japanese golfer Aki Iwai, who held the overnight lead, posted a 69 in the second round. She now trails Woad by two shots. Iwai had an exceptional first round, shooting an 8-under 63, which included eight birdies and no dropped shots. She made birdies on three of her last four holes, including the par-5 18th, during Thursday’s play.
Following Iwai are her countrywoman Mao Saigo and South Korean golfer Haeran Ryu, the winner of the Women’s PGA Championship. Both Saigo and Ryu shot 68 on Friday, placing them two shots behind Iwai. In the first round, Ryu was part of a group of five players who finished with 5-under 66s. Other notable players in that group included world No. 5 Charley Hull, who started the week as a guest at Wimbledon’s Royal Box, Maja Stark, and Jin Hee Im.
Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., also made a strong showing in the first round, carding an eagle on her final hole to be part of a group at 4 under. Meanwhile, Celine Boutier, the 2023 champion at Evian, faced significant challenges in her first round. She began with a triple bogey 7 on the first hole and later recorded back-to-back double bogey 6s on holes 10 and 11. Boutier managed to birdie the 18th, finishing her round with a 5-over 76. The Evian Championship has been designated as the fifth women’s major since its 2013 edition and currently boasts a prize money fund of $9.1 million.
Read Also
Source: sportsnet.ca
