NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Nelly Korda raced out to an early lead and beat the self-destructing Narin An 4 and three on Saturday within the semifinals of the T-Cell Match Play to place herself a match away from her fourth straight LPGA Tour victory.
The world’s top-ranked participant will play Leona Maguire within the last Sunday. The Irish star beat Sei Younger Kim 3 and a pair of.
“I do know she’s going to be fiery,” Korda mentioned. “That is simply how Leona is. She’s an excellent competitor. I feel it will be nice to share the stage along with her, and hopefully it will be a very good present.”
Korda is attempting to grow to be the primary LPGA Tour participant to win 4 consecutive begins since Lorena Ochoa in 2008. The file is 5, set by Nancy Lopez in 1978 and matched by Annika Sorenstam in 2004-05.
Korda took seven weeks off together with the Asian a part of the schedule after profitable in January in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida. Meaning a victory this weekend could be her third consecutive in a scheduled occasion. 4 gamers share the file of 4 straight, with Mickey Wright doing it twice.
Ought to Korda win, she may have the prospect to equal that file in two weeks at The Chevron Championship, the yr’s first main.
“Nelly is one of the best on the earth proper now,” mentioned Maguire, 3-1 in opposition to Korda in group matches for Europe within the Solheim Cup, although they have not met in singles. “She’s on a very scorching streak. It has been extremely spectacular what she’s been doing prior to now few weeks.
“It’ll be a very robust battle tomorrow. I’ve bought a giant problem forward of me. I am excited. I imply, that is why you observe. You wish to play one of the best gamers on the earth and that is what Nelly is.”
Korda was by no means examined within the semifinals, going 5 up by seven holes, needing solely two birdies to take that lead. An bogeyed the primary three holes earlier than steadying herself and even profitable a gap with a birdie on the par-4 tenth gap.
That, nevertheless, was a short lived reprieve. An was by no means in a position to overcome the early deficit to significantly threaten Korda, who performed the bottom 3-over par.
“The again 9 is a bit of more durable, so began to make a bit of bit extra errors,” Korda mentioned. “Fatigue began setting in it just a bit.”
There was a tad extra drama within the different semifinal. Maguire was 2 up by seven holes when Kim, the 2020 LPGA Tour Participant of the 12 months, had a superb opportunity to chop into the lead. However Maguire bought up and down on the par-3 eighth, sinking a 12-foot par putt save to maintain the benefit.
She picked up one other shot when Kim bogeyed the par-4 tenth, and the result was by no means actually unsure after that.
“I feel if you’re doing these 36-hole days, it is who makes the least errors nearly, particularly on a golf course like in the present day,” Maguire mentioned. “Actually completely happy how I performed.”
Climate had been a significant story throughout this match, and the temperature was 42 levels with the gamers teed off Saturday morning within the quarterfinals. However the robust winds that plagued the earlier two days was decreased to a breeze, and temps have been within the 60s for the afternoon play.
Korda superior to the semifinals by defeating Angel Yin 3 and a pair of, and Maguire beat Moriya Jutanugarn 4 and three. Additionally, Kim routed Rose Zhang 6 and 5, and An beat Minami Katsu 1 up.
