Nelly Korda’s Title Defence Off to Rocky Start as She Experiments with New Putter
The world No. 1 golfer, Nelly Korda, was left visibly frustrated after carding a disappointing 5-over 77 to begin her title defence at the Chevron Championship. According to a report by NBC Sports, Korda was on the verge of tears as she walked out of the scoring tent, citing that she “just has to work” and that she “wasn’t hitting it well”.
Korda’s round was marked by a series of struggles, including four consecutive bogeys on holes 3-6, which left her 12 shots off the lead and four off the early projected cut line. In an attempt to turn her fortunes around, Korda’s caddie, Jason McDede, and her swing coach, Jamie Mulligan, immediately headed to the practice putting green at The Club at Carlton Woods following her morning round. Korda joined them 15 minutes later, but surprisingly, she didn’t practice with the blade putter that she had used during her round. Instead, she opted for a mallet-style putter that bore a resemblance to her former putter.
A member of Korda’s team confirmed to NBC Sports that she was trying something “different”. This move comes after Korda put the blade putter back in her bag at last week’s JM Eagle LA Championship, where she endured multiple three-putts. The blade putter had been a key part of her historic 2024 season, helping her secure six of her seven tour wins. However, Korda switched to the mallet-style putter at the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews, following some summer struggles, and used it through her first four starts in 2025, earning one win at the 2024 Annika.
The experimentation with a new putter suggests that Korda is willing to make changes to get her game back on track. As NBC Sports reports, Korda’s low point during her opening round came midway through her front nine, where she made four consecutive bogeys, leaving her visibly emotional. “I’m going to go and practice,” Korda said as she walked away from the 18th green, “and see where it takes me”.
Korda’s struggles in the opening round have raised concerns about her ability to defend her title. However, as NBC Sports notes, Korda has shown resilience in the past, and it remains to be seen how she will respond to this setback. With the Chevron Championship being the first major of the season, Korda will be eager to get her campaign back on track.
In her post-round interview, Korda acknowledged that she needs to work on her game, stating that she’s “not hitting it well”. With her team, including McDede and Mulligan, working closely with her to fine-tune her game, it will be interesting to see how Korda adapts to this new challenge. As NBC Sports reports, Korda’s practice session with the mallet-style putter could be a sign of things to come, and golf fans will be watching closely to see how this story unfolds.
The Chevron Championship is a crucial event in the golf calendar, and Korda’s title defence has got off to a rocky start. Nevertheless, with her talent and determination, it’s too early to write her off. As NBC Sports continues to provide updates on Korda’s progress, golf enthusiasts will be eagerly following her journey to see if she can overcome this initial setback and mount a successful defence of her title.
According to NBC Sports, Nelly Korda after her round said: “I just have to work,” “I’m not hitting it well.”
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