BELLEAIR, Fla. — She might be six shots behind 54-hole leader Linn Grant, but don’t ever count Nelly Korda out at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.

The current Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 2 definitely knows how to win at Pelican Golf Club, doing so three times in her four previous starts in this tournament in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Korda has remained in search of her 16th career title since triumphing by three strokes over Charley Hull, Jin Hee Im and Weiwei Zhang, what was the seventh and final victory she tallied in a historic 2024 season.

And while a six-shot deficit might seem like quite a bit of ground for Korda to make up on Sunday at what can be a challenging venue, consider this. Of the six wins that Korda recorded in stroke-play events last season, she trailed entering the final round in four of them.

Korda was two shots back at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club before beating Ryann O’Toole in a playoff. She was then two behind through 54 holes the next week at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass and went on to win by two shots over Hira Naveed.

The now 27-year-old was one shot off the pace at both The Chevron Championship and The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican and went on to win both of those titles by two and three strokes, respectively.

So, even though it might take some help from those at the top of the leaderboard and a fairly low score from Korda to make things interesting coming down the stretch on Sunday in Belleair, Fla., it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility for the 15-time LPGA Tour winner to mount a comeback of epic proportions.

She also has proof that a round deep in the red is a reasonable expectation at this week’s host course, as, after opening with a birdie-free 1-over 72, Korda blitzed Pelican Golf Club on Friday, carding a bogey-free 7-under 63 that saw her finish with three consecutive birdies on the par-4 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

A late three-putt on 18 saw Korda ultimately post a 2-under 68 on Moving Day in her native Florida to share eighth with Olympic silver medalist Esther Henseleit at 8-under overall heading into the final round.

And while that finish was a frustrating one for the two-time major champion, she will be working to leave that bogey in the past and quickly turn her attention to the future, knowing that, particularly at a facility like this one that has slick, quick, undulating greens, slight missteps are going to happen from time to time.

“Just kind of didn't really get it close, but overall, it was an okay day,” said Korda. “Every day is a different day. Today was kind of like the first day where nothing was really going but then found a few maybe on the last few holes and then ended the round poorly. You just never know. It's golf.”

But considering how well she channeled her first-round frustration during Friday’s second round, ultimately carding her first 63 on the LPGA Tour since 2021, watch out.

A fourth victory at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican could wind up being in the cards for Nelly Korda.

Defending Champion Nelly Korda Lurking at Pelican Golf Club

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