MIAMI (AFP) — Reigning Olympic champion Nelly Korda will try to become the first player since 2015 to win an LPGA event in three consecutive years this week at The Annika tournament.
Sixth-ranked Korda captured the title the past two years at Pelican Golf Club at Belleair, Florida — barely an hour’s drive from her home in Bradenton.
“A lot of great memories,” Korda said.
“And it’s close to home so feels nice to drive to a tournament.
“I grew up in this weather, grew up on this grass, so I have a sense of comfort and I like the layout. You still have to make putts and play well. That’s what I’m hoping for this week.”
The most recent LPGA player to win an event three consecutive times was South Korean Park In-bee at the 2013-15 Women’s PGA Championships.
“To three-peat, obviously there’s pressure that I want to perform, but I try not to think about it,” Korda said.
“I try to stay in the present as much as possible, even with all the outside noise.”
The event was rebranded this year to be named for Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA titles, including 10 major crowns.
Sorenstam is the first player with her name on an LPGA event since Lorena Ochoa in 2017 and she also owns the LPGA record with five wins in a row at the same event — the 2001-2005 Mizuno Classics.
“Having her out here, just the presence of her, is really neat and cool,” Korda said.
“I think it just brings a little extra to an amazing event. And it also honors the legends of our game that have done so much for the game.”
Korda, 25, missed much of the 2022 season with a blood clot in her right arm but won her first title after the setback last year at Pelican, returning to world number one by defending her title.
Filipinos Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina are also seeing action in the meet in a hope to get a crack at an LPGA full status.
