“In all honesty, I got pretty teary,” Lydia Ko said, recalling the thrill of watching Rory McIlroy‘s quest for the career grand slam at the Masters Tournament. So, one can only imagine how Ko will feel if she completes her own quest – a mix of euphoria, relief, and maybe a few happy tears? With three major wins already under her belt, including the Evian Championship, ANA Inspiration, and the AIG Women’s British Open, Ko is tantalizingly close to achieving the career grand slam and retiring after that. She’s also an LPGA Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist, but the Career Grand Slam remains the final puzzle piece. And well, Ko has the stars aligned to make it happen at the next women’s major.

Speaking on the latest episode of 5 Clubs on YouTube, Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols talked about how Korda being in the spotlight will likely give Ko some much-needed breathing room: “I think Lydia comes in without a lot of pressure… it’s really the only thing left [Career Grand Slam]… and winning this one feels like you really need to really say Career Grand Slam.” With the golf world fixated on Nelly Korda‘s pursuit of greatness, Lydia Ko might just find herself flying under the radar – and loving every minute of it.

Lydia Ko is set to take a sigh of relief as growing pressure on Nelly Korda will help her at Erin Hills. According to Nichols, Ko won’t feel the same level of pressure as Korda, which could work in her favor. Nichols added, “I think for Lydia, you know, as the week goes on, if she finds herself in contention, she will definitely feel that [pressure]… but I think that’s actually a really good thing for her that going into this week… the focus is more on Nelly and less on Lydia, and I think that that will suit her.”

Well, Korda will indeed be looking to make a good showing at the Erin Hills, a course that’s no stranger to major championship drama – it last hosted the U.S. Open in 2017, where Brooks Koepka took home the title. All eyes will be on top-ranked Nelly Korda, although her recent track record at the U.S. Women’s Open is a bit of a mixed bag – she’s missed three cuts in the last five years and has only managed one top-10 finish.

Moreover, Korda has had a lackluster season so far with no wins and only 3 top-10 performances, including a T5 finish at the Mizuho Americas Open, a T7 at the Founders Cup, and some other notable finishes such as 2nd place at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions with a score of 270 (-18), and T14 at The Chevron Championship with a score of 286 (-2),

Hence, with a potential Career Grand Slam on the line and a bit of a stealth approach, Ko might just find herself in the perfect position to make a strong run and she has all the support to make that happen.

2017 U.S. Open winner has some advice for Lydia Ko and Co.

Erin Hills, a course that proved its mettle as a challenging venue when it hosted the U.S. Open in 2017. Brooks Koepka, the winner of that tournament, has a message for the competitors: “A fun course to play… Good luck, girls. It’s a U.S. Open. You already know it’s gonna be tough, but just stay with it. Stay focused and be patient. That’s what it takes. You guys already know that. Just enjoy. It’s a fun golf course to play. Keep attacking it, be aggressive, hit it to the correct spots, and you’ll be just fine.” Koepka’s words of wisdom come from experience, having played the course previously in the 2011 U.S. Amateur.

Erin Hills will indeed be a tough test for the women, with its 6,835-yard layout, elevated tees, and hilly terrain creating uneven lies and tricky approach shots. The course has firm and fast conditions, and the winds frequently change direction, adding to the difficulty. Lydia Ko, one of the top contenders, is looking to complete her quest for a career grand slam, and Koepka’s advice might just be the motivation she needs. With experienced players like Lexi Thompson and Amy Yang also in the field, the competition will be fierce. So, do you think Ko can finally complete her quest for a grand slam with Koepka’s advice?