Nelly Korda is definitely a hometown hero! With only the second event in the 2024 LPGA Tour season, the 25-year-old added another LPGA win to her tally. The Drive-On Championship victory surely has an extra touch of sweetness for a few reasons, first as it puts an end to a rather long winless drought that Korda suffered in the previous season on the women’s circuit.

Secondly, the win came in the Bradenton town she calls home and on the greens, from which she only lives 40 minutes away. The exceptional support and the umpteenth amount of love from the locals made the Olympic winner put forth a special request in front of the LPGA Tour commissioner, Mollie Marcoux, regarding the future of the event.

Nelly Korda wishes for the Drive-On to be back in 2025 

The 1x major champion won by sudden death, which marked the ninth victory in her LPGA Tour portfolio. After the successful event in her hometown, Korda was asked at the post-match conference if she would request the LPGA Tour commissioner to bring back the Drive-On Championship next year at the same course.

Basking in her hometown glory, the nine-time LPGA Tour winner first and foremost spoke about the electrifying atmosphere that was created by the spectators and the audience and said, “Look at the crowds we had. It was amazing. I can’t be the only one to say that.”

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Korda found that it was not only her who received the immense support of the crowd but every other player and she thought, “It was amazing”. Furthermore, she detailed that having an event in a town like this is special because “the entire town gets behind the event.”

Korda relayed the energy felt on the course while having the support of the crowd. The cheering from outside the rope “makes it really fun playing in front of them” and gives off a “different energy” to the players. The match was truly fun yet a bit fiery for Korda, as she faced Ko and could have missed the win.

The intense playoff between Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda

Nelly Korda entered the final round with a four-stroke lead over Lydia Ko and Megan Khang. However, she soon tumbled down and could not follow in the momentum of the past three days. On the back nine, Korda made two bogeys and one double bogey, making it easy for Ko to come closer to her lead.

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As a result, there was only one stroke difference between the two. However, Korda then made a birdie on the 17th hole and an eagle on the par-4 18th. The two were tied at 11 under and entered the playoffs. The first hole was tied again, as both were at par. But at the second playoff hole, Korda made a birdie, while Ko missed one and, as a result, also missed her Hall of Fame induction. 

The slip-up by Ko and Korda’s immense hard work at Bradenton accomplished her first victory in 2024 at her home course. The event was indeed memorable for Korda, as she had the support of the masses and eventually did not disappoint them.

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