The relentless wind did drop a little, as did the elite field’s average score for the third round of the Women’s Open. And, fortunately for her fellow contenders at the top of the leaderboard, Nelly Korda was also more down than up. Ahead by three strokes overnight, the world No1 started with two bogeys and was still one over par for the day when she disastrously drove out of bounds off the 16th tee.
“It’s nice to finish with a birdie, but it wasn’t the best of days,” Korda said. “But it’s OK. Hopefully I can take that momentum into tomorrow. It’s going to be a tough day. The winds are going to be high. There could be rain as well. I’m going to keep a positive attitude. Take it one shot at a time. I played really well the first two days, so I’m going to take that momentum into tomorrow.”
It all added up to a round of 75 that left the 26-year-old Korda on five under, two shots behind the new leader, two-time champion Shin Ji-yai. In contrast to Korda’s woes, the Korean made seven birdies – including three in a row from the 7th and one at the notoriously difficult Road Hole – in a round 67 that took her to seven under par for the 54 holes played.
That Shin should emerge in such efficient fashion is no real surprise. Having won this championship at Royal Liverpool in 2012, she is well-educated in the inherent eccentricity of links golf. The highlight of her round came at the infamous 17th, the Road Hole. Wielding a hybrid club, the 36-year-old struck a magnificent draw off the right edge of what is perhaps golf’s most elusive putting surface, her ball finishing only two feet from the cup.
“This is my third time at StAndrews,” said Shin. “That’s how much I played it, for so long. But not like this tough wind. So that’s why I take all my skill today. The wind is nice to me today.”
Still, apart from the strangely listless Korda, a distinguished bunch is piled up behind the new leader. Jenny Shin, the 2023 Women’s PGA champion, Yin Ruoning, the defending champion, Lilia Vu, the Olympic champion, Lydia Ko, and last year’s runner-up, Charley Hull, are all within five shots of the leader.
Within the chasing group, Hull – who refused interview requests despite closing with a heartening birdie – was surely the most disappointed by an erratic showing that started with great promise but soon enough stalled. A double-bogey seven at the par-five 5th was the lowlight, the Kettering-born player eventually limping round in 75.
Earlier, there was better news for the European Solheim Cup captain, Suzann Pettersen. Esther Henseleit is already a certainty to make her debut for the squad that will defend the trophy next month at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, but the Olympic silver medallist made a significant move forward.
In 99th place after her first-round 77, five over par, the 25-year-old German is now two under, only five shots off the pace and tied for 10th place, courtesy of third-round 66.
The only thing missing on the Hamburg resident’s CV is a victory on the LPGA Tour. Not that she is panicking.
“There has always been someone playing better than me,” she said with a smile. “I’ve played well in final rounds, but someone has always been a little bit better. I’m trying to be patient. I’m sure my time will come.”
