Nelly Korda seems to be back at her best at the home of golf.
The top-ranked American handled the windy conditions at St. Andrews with skill, shooting a bogey-free 4-under 68 in the second round on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the Women’s British Open.
Korda won the first women’s major of 2024, the Chevron Championship in April, and is on track to win the last one as well. She has also won five more titles this year, confirming her status as the top player in women’s golf, even though her best form has been missing in recent months.
Her competitors face the added challenge that Korda is also excelling in links golf.
“This year in general, I’ve won on just so many different types of grasses, in different types of conditions, that you just kind of always have to adapt,” Korda said, noting she was 8-under par for the tournament. “That’s the same thing in tennis, same thing in life.
“You’re always adapting to your situations at hand, and I think that’s what’s so fun about links golf — you’re literally starting it 30 yards left of your target, and I’m not a fade player but I’m hitting massive fades. I think it’s fun hitting these little low drivers, too. I’m having fun, and I enjoy links golf a lot.”
Korda played her first two rounds with defending champion Lilia Vu and England’s Charley Hull, a crowd favorite in her home major, and the star group performed well.
Hull, the leader after the first round with a 67, shot even par in the second round and was tied for second place at 5 under with Vu, who shot 70.
They were outperformed by Korda on a day when the wind was less severe than the first day, but Hull was optimistic for the weekend.
“Being only three shots behind isn’t a big deal going into the weekend, especially on this golf course,” said No. 10-ranked Charley Hull, who is aiming for her first major win. “I missed a lot of putts. I think Nelly had 30 putts and I had 36, so I’ve given up six putts to her on the greens.”
Ruoning Yin, the winner of last year’s Women’s PGA Championship from China, shot a 72 and was in fourth place alone at 4 under.
Olympic champion Lydia Ko shot a 70 and was among six players at 3 under, five strokes behind the leader. Swedish amateur Louise Rydqvist, who shot a 67, was also in that group.
Several players missed the cut, including No. 3-ranked Jin Young Ko (10 over), No. 5-ranked Hannah Green (7 over), two-time major winner and No. 13-ranked Minjee Lee (9 over), and No. 14-ranked Lauren Coughlin (6 over), who had won two of her previous three starts, including the Scottish Open last week.
After two windy days at the Old Course, only 20 players were under par after 36 holes. The weather is expected to be calmer for the weekend.
Korda began one stroke behind Hull, who bogeyed two of her first five holes after starting at No. 10 and fell further behind as Korda made long putts to birdie Nos. 17 and 18 for the second day in a row.
Using a new putter, Korda made another birdie at the par-5 fifth hole and then two-putted from the fringe for a birdie at No. 9 after nearly driving the green. Vu and Hull also birdied the last hole to stay three shots back and remain in contention.
