America’s Nelly Korda wins Women’s PGA Championship title to become World No.1
Nelly Korda poses with the trophy after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club on Sunday. AFP
Nelly Korda won the Women's PGA Championship to capture her first major title and become the first American since 2014 to seize the world number one ranking.
The 22-year-old daughter of retired Czech tennis star Petr Korda made two eagles in outdueling compatriot Lizette Salas down the stretch for a three-stroke triumph.
"I've put in a lot of work," Korda said. "And to finally get three wins under my belt this year and a major championship, I don't even have words, honestly." Korda fired a four-under-par 68 to finish 72 holes on 19-under 269 at Atlanta Athletic Club with Salas on 272 after a closing 71.
She will jump from third to first in Monday's new rankings, overtaking South Korea's number one Ko Jin-young and second-ranked Park In-bee.
Korda will become the first American atop the rankings since Stacy Lewis in October 2014 and only the third US player atop the list since it began in 2006 after Lewis and Cristie Kerr.
Korda became the first American to win a major women's golf title since Angela Stafford at the 2018 Evian. "This is something I've worked for since I was 14," Korda said.
"I wanted to win a major since I played in my first one. "To finally get it done here in Atlanta with such an amazing crowd, it was something special."
South Korea's Kim Hyo-joo and Italy's Giulia Molinaro shared a distant third on 278 with Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit and American Danielle Kang sharing fifth on 280.
Agence France-Presse
