World No. 2 Nelly Korda continued her strong play after surgery to alleviate a blood clot in her left arm kept her away from the game for more than three months. She shot 1-under 71 on Thursday and was pleased with the effort.
Asked what she thought about the course setup, Korda, 23, who won this tournament a year ago at Atlanta Athletic Club, said she leaves thinking about the setup to her caddie, Jason McDede. She just figures out what is in front of her and hits the shots.
“I never really think about the setup. I kind of think about the hole when I get to it,” Korda said, smiling. “That is my caddie's job. He thinks about the setup. He was a little shocked that we were playing so far back, actually, on a couple of the holes. Especially with it being so wet and soft, the ball not rolling out.
“I had a lot of 5-irons today.”
Korda said her fellow competitor, Inbee Park, could not get home on the par-4 fourth hole hitting driver and 3-wood. As for her opening day, Korda was seven shots behind the leader, In Gee Chun, but just fine with where she stood. In her first two starts back from surgery, she tied for eighth at the U.S. Women’s Open and lost in a playoff at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. Her game is in nice shape.
“Any first round under par is good at a major,” Korda said. “I don't know what golf course In Gee is playing. She must be playing really well. I would think when I teed it up today, I would be very happy with the score that I shot.”
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