(Reuters) – World number two Nelly Korda has tightened up the “loose ends” in her game in pursuit of her second major title at the Chevron Championship, which begins this week in the Woodlands, Texas.
The American has come tantalisingly close this year to adding another title to her eight LPGA wins, finishing in the top six in four of her last five starts, including a second-place showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship last month.
She finished third at the Chevron Championship in 2021 and second in 2020 but will not have the benefit of a familiar course as the first women’s major on the calendar moves from its usual Palm Springs venue to the Club at Carlton Woods.
“It’s a completely different layout. Water is way more in play this week, I would say, completely different grass,” Korda told reporters.
“I would say there’s more trouble off the tee and the greens are smaller, and if it gets firm, it’s going to play really tough because it is still long.”
Korda took two weeks off after her fifth-place finish at the DIO Implant LA Open, travelling to watch the Masters in person for the first time before getting back to the grind.
“I practised all of last week. Honestly just kind of getting into playing mode, tightening up some loose ends that I thought maybe I could have worked on, done better,” said Korda, who underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from her left arm a year ago.
“I don’t think that I’ve had my best stuff yet, so hopefully I can continue working on my game and peak in the right moments.”
The Chevron Championship starts on Thursday.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Toby Davis)
