Spending five uninterrupted hours alongside Nelly Korda provides a profound understanding of precisely why she stands as the world's premier golfer. The setting was Orlando, Florida, for the LPGA's prestigious season opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. The Daily Mail secured rare access inside the ropes to observe an entire round with the two-time major champion, witnessing a performance that underscored her elite status.
A Day of Dramatic Transformation
Beginning the third round tied for eighth and trailing leader Lydia Ko by three strokes, Korda embarked on what would become a spectacular charge. By the time she reached the 18th green, with Florida's capricious winds swirling around her, the dynamic had completely reversed. The hunter had decisively become the hunted, transforming a three-shot deficit into a commanding three-shot lead over the field, nearly etching her name into the course record books in the process.
Unaware of History in the Making
Remarkably, Korda remained oblivious to her historic pace. "I will tell you honestly, I'm not even aware, I'm just so focused," she revealed to The Daily Mail in the media centre shortly after her round. Her final score of 64 fell just two strokes shy of the course record, a feat she might have matched or surpassed had the weather conditions remained stable. Through fifteen holes, she stood at nine-under-par, merely one shot from the record, as growing crowds sensed potential history.
"I'm so diligent when I do my scorecard that I put the score in right after the hole… [but] there was like three or four holes when I wasn’t even doing it, so I wasn’t even really aware of my score throughout the day," Korda explained. Her exceptionally relaxed demeanour made this claim entirely believable; the concept of 'pressure' appears absent from her competitive lexicon.
A Mesmeric Start and Undersold Excellence
Korda's description of her day – "Yeah, I started off great" – drastically undersold the mesmerising golf she displayed on Lake Nona's front nine. Her scorecard read birdie, birdie, eagle across the first three holes. The standout shot came on the third hole, where from the right rough she executed a stunning 50-degree wedge that landed two feet past the pin and spun back into the cup. An Orlando police officer assigned to her security detail captured the moment perfectly: "I've never seen anything like it."
Composure Amidst the Storm
Despite the high stakes, with a $2.1 million purse on the line, Korda maintained a calm, chatty, and laid-back attitude throughout. She treated the round with the ease of a practice session, pausing to take selfies with young fans between holes, ensuring no child missed a moment with their hero. Partnered with baseball legends Albert Pujols and Jon Lester, as per the tournament's celebrity pro-am format, she spent the day in relaxed conversation, even using Lester's substantial frame as a windbreak when conditions intensified on the back nine.
The Caddie's Calming Influence
A key component of Korda's serene performance is her long-time caddie, Jason McDede, whose own tranquil presence visibly complements her approach. Their excellent rapport is evident, and McDede deserves significant credit for helping refine Korda's game to its current pinnacle. The only blemish on an otherwise flawless Saturday was a late weather shift, with winds escalating to such speeds that play was suspended shortly after Korda's group finished.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
All attention now turns to the final round and Korda's opportunity to secure a much-needed victory. Despite a strong 2025 season, she did not claim a trophy, with her 15th and most recent LPGA Tour title dating back to November 2024. When asked if Sunday might yield a 16th title, her response was characteristically understated: "We'll see." However, if she replicates the form displayed during this remarkable 64, the trophy engravers may well begin their work early.
