Nelly Korda’s banner year hasn’t ended yet.
The world No. 1, just over a month removed from winning her first major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, is in peak form in Tokyo.
On Thursday, Korda carded four birdies and an eagle to take the lead at the Olympics and put the gold medal in sight.
.@NellyKorda's last five holes: 🐦🦅🐦🐦🐦She currently leads the field at the #TokyoOlympics.@TeamUSA // @OnHerTurf x #OlympicHERstory 📺 GOLF💻 https://t.co/FmEtvutDRA📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/8xXh1H9fSk— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2021
.@NellyKorda's last five holes: 🐦🦅🐦🐦🐦She currently leads the field at the #TokyoOlympics.@TeamUSA // @OnHerTurf x #OlympicHERstory 📺 GOLF💻 https://t.co/FmEtvutDRA📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/8xXh1H9fSk
She finished the round with a 9-under 62 to tie an Olympic record and take a four-shot lead.
It has yet to be determined how many more holes Korda will have to play to try to hold onto her lead. The International Golf Federation staff has already alerted players of a developing tropical storm that could force the women’s competition to be reduced to 54 holes.
The golfers remain optimistic that, with threesomes going off each tee, the rounds could start early on Friday and Saturday.
“I’m going to have the mindset that it’s going to be a 72-hole golf course and whatever happens, happens,” Korda said. “But I’m not going to set my mind on that it’s just going to be less than 72. Because right now it is.”