Nelly Korda has a chance to create history at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship 2026. She has already won the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open this year. A win at Hazeltine National Golf Club means she will tie Babe Zaharias and Inbee Park for three consecutive major titles, only one shy of the record holder, Mickey Wright. She will also become the youngest to be included in the LPGA Hall of Fame, surpassing Lydia Ko.

With all this and much more at stake, the World No. 1 started her journey at Hazeltine. Her opening round was a 2-under 70, which featured five birdies, one bogey, and a double bogey on the 16th. However, she upped her game in the second round, carding 4-under 68 with five birdies and a bogey. Her third round was a story of what-could’ve-been rather than what it was.

Nelly Korda opened with back-to-back pars on the first two holes but succumbed to a bogey on the par-5 3rd. Her 138-yard approach shot landed in the left greenside bunker. Her recovery shot left her 31 feet short of the hole, and she missed the long par putt. Korda’s was one of the eight bogeys recorded on the hole, which has played relatively easy so far in the championship.

🤔 golf trivia

This Should Be an Easy One, Right?

01/10

On Which Hole Jordan Spieth’s Ball Got Stuck Under a Trashcan?

14th 15th16th 17th

Oops, bogey!

But don’t worry, there’s still the back 9 to prove your high golf IQ

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Nevertheless, Korda made up for the bogey on sixth with a birdie. A 271-yard tee shot got her to the right fairway. She followed that with a 106-yard approach to the left green and made the 14-foot putt. Korda made the turn at even par.

The World No. 1 started her back nine with a par save but was quick to pick up the pace. She picked two birdies on the 11th and the 13th. Unfortunately, she lost the momentum thereafter. Her putter turned cold, and the 16th once again left her frustrated.

Korda had a birdie look after her 239-yard tee shot. But then her four-foot left-to-right putt kissed the rim of the cup and lipped out. She eventually saved par. Speaking after the round, Korda said she didn’t make a very confident stroke and missed the opportunity.

Nelly Korda ranked 55th in Strokes Gained: Putting in the third round, losing over a stroke with the flat stick. On the par-3 17th, she made her second bogey of the day thanks to a missed seven-footer. She ended her third round with 1-under 71, four shots behind the leader Haeran Ryu.

Korda was asked what it would take for her to contend on Sunday. She threw the question back to the journalist:

Korda: What do you think?

Journalist: Putting.

Korda: Okay, thank you. Yeah, just left a few putts out there. Mm-hmm.

Jessica Korda, her sister and six-time LPGA Tour winner, was on the range with Nelly. Cameras caught them in a lengthy discussion, with Jessica having a close look at Nelly’s putting stroke. Just a few weeks ago, Jessica suggested her sister change her grip, and with that, Nelly went on to win the U.S. Women’s Open. Nelly can only hope her sister’s advice will pay off this time too.

Her stats for the third round are:

As you can see, the striking difference between her 4-under Round 2 and 1-under Round 3 is putting. While her driving improved significantly on the moving day—she bombed a 357-yarder on the 18th—it did not outweigh the losses caused by poor putting.

With just four shots short of the leader, Haeran Ryu, she will certainly try to make a move on the final day to claim her third consecutive major. However, wind is expected to be even stronger on Sunday, which could pose a challenge for Nelly Korda.