Some parallels are going on in the PGA Tour and LPGA right now. Mainly between Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda last year. Truly dominating forces that clinched title after title. This year, fighting hard but yet to win a title. Scheffler failed in defending his major title. Korda will get the chance to negate that in a week in Texas. But for that, she needs to turn back the clock. The El Caballero Country Club witnessed a brief glimpse of Nelly Korda from last year. At T12 and needing a mountain to climb, the world No. 1 shot a brilliant round 3 to end at T5, three strokes off the lead, with one more day’s play remaining.

If you take the results of this year alone, 4 cuts in 4 starts, 2 top 10s, Korda hasn’t been that disappointing.  But when you compare it with her status last year, it is vastly different. The two-time major winner is far from her best, which was there for everyone to see in 2024. Now, as she gets ready to defend her major title at the Chevron Championship, there are doubts as to what is dragging her down.

Speaking to the press during the JM Eagle LA Championship, Korda was fairly understanding of what needed to be done. “Golf is all about gaining confidence and getting more reps under your belt, so that’s what I’m doing. I mean, when it comes to creating opportunities and, I think, gaining a little bit of confidence, that’s exactly what I’m doing here this week,” the 15-time LPGA Tour winner stated.

Last year, heading into the Chevron Championship, Korda had been in prime form, winning four times on the tour and notching three straight victories right before the major. This year speaks a different story. At 7 LPGA Tour events this season before the JM Eagle LA Championship, there have been 7 different winners. And Nelly Korda is not among them. Somehow, her results got into a downward trend as each event took place. T2 in Hilton Grand Vacations, T8 in Founders Cup, T22 in Ford Championship, and T28 in T-Mobile Match Play event.

Which is why Nelly Korda is focused on the now rather than the later. “I’m very focused on the event I’m playing in, and next week is very, very, very far away for me right now. Just going to focus on trying to get everything kind of dialed in for tomorrow and give it my best shot.” She added.

The JM Eagle LA Championship is what might provide some much-needed confidence before the upcoming title defense at Texas.

Nelly Korda’s vibrant Day 3 at Los Angeles

Korda had a decent start to proceedings on Day 3 as she was trying to chase the pack led by Swede Ingrid Lindblad. She registered a brilliant birdie on her first hole of the day. But her topsy-turvy day continued as she registered a bogey on the next hole before going birdie and bogey again. She ended up carding 5 more birdies and two more bogeys in an eventful Round 3.

But her moment of brilliance came on hole 16 when she drained a 9-iron stroke just two feet away from the pin to register a brilliant eagle. Korda is now three strokes off the lead, and considering that her usual competitors are behind her in the standings (Jeeno Thitikul is T8, while Jin Young Ko and Hannah Green are T12), this is a good way to boost her confidence ahead of her title defense at the Chevron Championship.

Do you think Nelly Korda can stage another incredible round and claim her first LPGA victory of the season?