World number-one Nelly Korda is eyeing her fourth consecutive victory on the LPGA Tour after defeating Angel Yin in the quarterfinals of the T-Mobile Match Play. Despite her victory, the match proved to be a challenging battle, with chilly and windy conditions surprising the players.
Korda managed to take an early lead with a birdie on the 2nd hole, but Yin quickly equalized with a birdie of her own on the 4th. Korda regained momentum by winning the 6th and 7th holes with a par and a birdie, respectively, securing a 2-up lead.
Throughout the match, Korda emphasized the importance of pars, especially in tough conditions. She extended her lead to 3-up after winning the 12th hole with another par. Although Yin managed to win holes 15 and 16, the match concluded with Korda winning 3 & 2 with a birdie at the 16th hole. Reflecting on the match, Korda acknowledged Yin’s skill in match play and expressed satisfaction with her own performance, particularly ending on a birdie.
In the semifinals, Korda will face Narin An from South Korea, who secured a 1-up victory against Minami Katsu of Japan. Meanwhile, Irish golfer Leona Maguire dominated her quarterfinal match against Moriya Jutanugarn, winning 4 & 3. Maguire attributed her success to steady play and maintaining pressure on her opponent. She will compete against Sei Young Kim in the semifinals, who defeated Rose Zhang 6 & 5.
The potential finals could set up a rematch between Korda and Maguire, reminiscent of their encounters at the Solheim Cup. Both players faced each other twice during the event last year, with one win each for the Americans and Europeans.
Kim expressed anticipation for her match against Maguire, praising her competitiveness and stating her intention to give her best effort. Live coverage of the semifinals will be broadcast on Golf Channel, with the winners advancing to the finals on Sunday.
