Nelly Korda Fires ‘Aggressive’ Challenge at $3M Event Rival After LPGA Legend Fuels Her Hunger for Win

The #1 is yearning for a win. No, we’re not talking about Scottie. He has already captured the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson to end his winless run till mid-2025. We’re talking about Nelly Korda. Nelly has lost three of the five back-to-back titles she won last season. The remaining two were cancelled, which means she lost the opportunity to defend them. However, things might turn around for her finally as she competes in New Jersey. She seems confident, calm, and composed. Her 3Cs of life!

After three rounds of the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open, defending champion Nelly Korda is in third place, two strokes away from Jeeno Thitikul. The 26-year-old has been in contention since the second round, where she finished tied in first with Somi Lee and Andrea Lee. Hours before teeing off for the last 18 holes, Korda had a Q&A with the media where she was asked about her mindset going into the final round. Determined to retain the title, Korda had a fitting response that perfectly described her intent to dominate on Sunday.

“Just kind of stick to my game plan. I’m not going to sway away from it. I’m going to be aggressive where I can, and I’m not if I’m out of position. So it just depends on how I’m playing that day and if I can kind of run after it,” she responded. Despite going winless for six months, Korda seems calm, composed, and focused on her game plan. Push where possible, save where it’s not, and avoid mistakes. For decades, that has proven to be the best plan for the final round. Not playing it too safe to lose it like Greg Norman in ’96 at Augusta National, not pushing too hard like Rory McIlroy at the same venue in 2012.

The one final message Korda had for everyone, including Thitikul, is, “The mindset is going to be, at the end of the day, you’ve got to chase that leader.”  The world no. 1 has an eye on the $3 million prize, and her biggest obstacle is Jeeno Thitikul. Taking her place on the leaderboard and beating the rest of the field will be the primary goal on Sunday. That will make up for all the failures and sadness she has experienced recently. That includes the loss of Rafi, her pet cat. Korda definitely has a very strong mindset to rise from the ashes and win the event. Even the tournament host, Michelle Wie West, admitted that as she spoke fondly about the 2024 Rolex Player of the Year.

Apr 21, 2024; The Woodlands, Texas, USA; Nelly Korda (USA) waits to putt on the ninth green during the final round of The Chevron Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

This is not the first time Korda has talked about her mindset when trying to catch the leader. At the 2024 Founders Cup, she stayed patient, even after being 4 strokes behind the leader after 36 holes. When asked about her mindset, she said, “There’s definitely more pressure on you when everyone is trying to get you, and there’s something fun trying to catch the leaders. So they are both very different, but I am just going to stay in my bubble, and I am not going to put that much pressure on myself, you know, while trying to catch them and wherever I can take advantage, I will and see how it goes.”

Just so you know, things might not be as easy as Nelly Korda hopes they will be at the Mizuho Americas Open. The final round can be far more challenging if the world No. 2 continues her wild run.

A mountainous climb awaits Nelly Korda

Nelly Korda has remained extremely consistent throughout the 54 holes so far. She has scored a 4-under par 68 in all three rounds to finish at -12 on the penultimate day. But her consistency might not be enough if Jeeno Thitikul goes on another wild run in the last 18 holes.

Thitikul has had a roller coaster ride in the last three days. She ended Thursday with a two-stroke lead after finishing at 8-under par 64. The Thailand national followed that up with a 1-over 73 in the second round. Finally, after another nail-biting 18 holes, which included a double bogey, Thitikul has again managed a low scoring 7-under 65 to end at -14 before the last day of the event. If the 22-year-old replicates her second-round performance on Sunday, then Nelly should be able to capitalize on that with her consistent performance.

But if Jeeno Thitikul matches her scores from Thursday and Saturday, then winning the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open might be out of Nelly Korda’s hands. Let us see how the tables turn!

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