Nelly Korda posted a 3‑over‑par 75 on Thursday, 13 July 2026, at the Evian Championship, putting her three‑major chase on hold but leaving her in contention as the tournament heads into its final round.
What happened?
Korda started the day on the 13th tee at Evian Resort Golf Club and struggled to find rhythm. A double‑bogey on the par‑5 12th and a missed birdie putt on the 8th left her at 75, three strokes over par. The leaderboard shifted, with world‑number‑one Jin Young Ko taking the lead at 5‑under after a solid round. Korda’s score dropped her to a tie for 12th, still within striking distance but far from the top spot.
Why it matters for Korda’s season?
The American entered Evian with two majors already under her belt this year – the Chevron Championship and the PGA Women’s Championship. A third major would cement a historic run rarely seen on the LPGA Tour. Shooting 3‑over shows the thin margin between dominance and struggle; a single mis‑hit can swing a round dramatically. Still, Korda remains only five strokes off the lead, meaning a strong final round could vault her back into the top three.
How does this affect the LPGA race?
Korda’s performance keeps the season’s points race wide open. With the Evian offering 1,000 world ranking points to the winner, a comeback could tighten the gap between her and Ko, who currently leads the Race to the CME Globe. The pressure now shifts to the final day, where Korda will need birdies on the closing holes to climb the leaderboard. Her experience in major pressure situations – she won the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open – suggests she can handle the swing.
What’s next for Korda?
The final round is scheduled for Friday, 14 July 2026, starting at 8 a.m. local time. Korda will likely adopt an aggressive yet measured strategy, aiming for birdies on the reachable par‑5s while avoiding the water‑guarded greens that plagued her earlier holes. Fans will watch to see if she can rebound and secure that elusive third major, a feat that would place her among the sport’s elite.
How did the field react?
After Korda’s round, several players commented on the difficulty of the Evian course. Ko, who posted a 68, noted the "tight fairways and tricky greens" that punished even the best. Fellow American Lexi Thompson, tied for 8th, praised Korda’s resilience, saying she "always finds a way to fight back". The atmosphere in the clubhouse remained upbeat, with spectators hopeful for a dramatic finish.
The Evian Championship continues to be a test of skill and mental toughness. Korda’s 75 may not have moved the needle today, but the final round offers a fresh canvas. If she can string together a few birdies, the dream of a third major this season remains within reach.