Nelly Korda — just the best

By Neville Idour

Who is currently the world’s number one golfer? Do I hear you say Scottie Scheffler? Or maybe those of us without male blinkers on would put aside bias and consider Nelly Korda.

Oh sure Nelly would probably never beat Scottie in a match from the same tee. Some would suggest that is the only way to decide who is best. Constipated thinking at best.

But let us just consider their recent successes in their own realms and how they stack up against their opposition. Scheffler has strung together two wins, a second and another two wins culminating in the RBC Heritage. Included is a major championship win. Korda has strung together five consecutive wins, including one major.

Kordas’ first win was at the LPGA Drive On Championship in January followed by a seven-week break with health issues and strengthening her body and fitness, before her second win at the Se Ri Pak Championship. Now healthy, she closed with a 65 for a 20 under par third win at the Ford Championship. Now on a roll she won the T Mobile Matchplay beating Leona Maguire 4 and 3 in the final for her fourth win.

So to the first major of the year the Chevron Championship.

She began the final round in a tie for second with Brooke Henderson, one shot behind Haeran Ryu. Three birdies on the front nine while others faltered gave her a three shot lead. However she admitted it was a grind on the back nine despite having a four shot lead with a few holes to play. A bogey and birdies for Lauren Coughlin saw her lead cut to one with No 18, a par five, to play. No problem. On the green in two the birdie gave her a two shot victory.

“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks,’’ Korda said after the Chevron.

``I can finally breathe. I’m going to enjoy this right now. Hopefully I’ll keep the streak alive.”

The 25-year-old, with an endearing personality, will have an opportunity to do that at the Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey from May 9-12.

She has certainly taken command of the LPGA Tour and has joined Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam as the only LPGA players since 1978 to win five consecutive events. She now has 13 LPGA Tour wins under her belt. Also she is the youngest American since Julie Inkster (1984) to win two majors. With her personality and talent she is just what the women's game has needed.

What is telling about her phenominal contribution to the game is the depth of talent week in week out on the LPGA Tour. As evidence is that since 2017, 19 players have won their first major and not backed up with a second win. So many former number one players in the fields as well means she has had to beat the best each time.

Add to all of this is her swing. Many experts say she has the best swing in golf. I would have to say I have seen none better. If it is possible for a golf swing to be thing of beauty hers is. Just watch her classic posture, perfect forearm and swing plane.

Conversely, Scheffler has also fashioned a most impressive run this year. He now has 10 wins on the PGA Tour to his name. Week in week out there is a difference on the PGA Tour compared to the LPGA Tour.

Since 2020 six players have occupied the number one spot on the world rankings as follows with the number of weeks attached. Dustin Johnson (135), Rory McIlroy (122), Scottie Scheffler (84), Jon Rahm (52), Brooks Koepka (47), Justin Thomas (5).

If we ignore Thomas’ blip, three of the four, other than Scheffler plus Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau and others are not in the fields other than for the four majors. Also since 2020, Johnson, DeChambeau, Rahm (2), Smith, Koepka and Phil Mickelson have all won majors. So while Scheffler is clearly the best player on the PGA Tour his Masters win is not enough to head off Korda.

One swallow does not make a summer despite his impressive Masters win. Scheffler can only beat the field he is presented with so he just needs to keep winning … and maybe hope the world's best male golfers can compete together more often. But then maybe he is happy the way things are as he has said the LIV players should be penalised if they want to play PGA Tour events.

While this is probably a nebulous subject it is still relevant in terms of the game and where it is. This humble scribe is happy to say Nelly Korda is currently the world's number one golfer, male or female.