Nelly Korda closed with back-to-back birdies on Saturday to cap a seven-under-par 63 and join fellow American Lexi Thompson atop the leaderboard in the third round of the Pelican Championship.
Korda, who regained the world No 1 ranking from South Korean Ko Jin-young this week, said a better performance off the tee keyed her eight-birdie effort at Pelican Club in Belleair, Florida.
“I was hitting it better off the tee today and just gave myself some really good looks,” Korda said.
“I was stuffing it on the back nine. I missed probably a 10-footer on No 10 and then I made 11, missed 12 – I was pretty close there – and then missed 13 as well.
“I gave myself some really good looks, so at least I’m going in the right direction,” added Korda, who started the day two shots off the lead shared by Thompson and Jennifer Kupcho.
Thompson, whose 11 LPGA titles include one major, had six birdies in her five-under-par 65 – including a string of three straight at the fifth, sixth and seventh holes.
UNREAL 🔥
Watch shots like this one from @Lexi now on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/8TyGsJiDRe
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 14, 2021
The leading duo were one stroke in front of Kupcho, who had five birdies and had grabbed a share of the lead when she picked up strokes at 16 and 17 but bogeyed the last for a four-under 66 for 195.
US veteran Christina Kim and South Korean Kim Sei-young were a further stroke back on 196, both carding 65s.
Korda said she was enjoying the Pelican layout, with generous fairways allowing for aggression off the tee.
“I feel like you can kind of bomb it, bomb away off the tee, and then give yourself a good look at birdie,” she said.
“You still have to hit it decently straight. Bunkers are in play and the pine straw is really thick. I’ve heard a couple people have almost lost their balls in the pine straw.”
There are tee shots… Then there tee shots like this from @NellyKorda 😱
Tune in on @GolfChannel now to watch! pic.twitter.com/EuhXJKkzey
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 14, 2021
And she was looking forward to playing alongside Thompson, who is seeking her first win since 2019.
“I don’t think Lexi and I have ever played in a final group together,” Korda said. “She’s playing well. I heard she’s putting really well, too.
“It’s going to take a low one [to win],” she said.
© Agence France-Presse
