THE WOODLANDS, Texas — All eyes are on World No. 1 Nelly Korda as the LPGA stages its first major of the season. Korda looks to become only third player in LPGA history to win five consecutive starts, joining Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2005).
Korda’s streak began in her hometown at the LPGA Drive On event in Bradenton, Florida, and then, after a seven-week break from the tour, she won three events in the span of three weeks. The tour took last week off during the Masters Tournament.
Korda was asked during a pre-tournament press conference at The Club at Carlton Woods how aware she is of the history she’s made and what’s at stake.
“In 2021 I won’t on a run, and then in 2022 and 2023 golf really humbled me,” she explained. “I think in sports, there are ups and downs. Every athlete goes through the rollercoaster, and that is what makes the sport so great. You mature and grow so much and learn more about yourself.
“You never take these weeks for granted. You always try to appreciate and become very grateful for them. It makes just all the hard work so worth it. But I think I’ve learned so much about myself even through the losses.”
As Korda looks to become the first player to win a major title while holding the No. 1 ranking since Lydia Ko won this event in 2016, 131 other players have their own stories in motion. Here are five storylines to watch beyond Korda-mania at the Chevron Championship:
So Yeon Ryu of South Korea poses with the trophy after winning the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
Two-time major winner So Yeon Ryu, 33, will say farewell to the LPGA after this week. A former No. 1 player in the world, Ryu turned professional at age 17 and burst onto the worldwide stage when she won the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor East Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in a three-hole aggregate playoff over fellow South Korean Hee Hyung Seo. She joined the tour the following season.
Ryu, who also won the 2017 ANA Inspiration, said being home nine months during the pandemic got her thinking about the next chapter of life.
“I never knew I could have that kind of stable life,” said Ryu. “I’m not saying my life was bad. I really enjoyed the travel for a while, but when you travel for like 20 years you just can get exhausted. I always feel so happy that I don’t need to pack or worry about what time is my flight, how…
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