Nelly Korda, the top-ranking golfer worldwide, is about to make history.
Two rounds, or 36 holes, from potentially achieving an extraordinary feat, Nelly Korda exudes a sense of relaxation and serenity as she gets closer to potentially making history.
"I did a great job of staying present and just staying in my own little bubble," she said to reporters following her second round at the Cognizant Founders Cup, chuckling at how her statement could be part of a drinking game due to how frequently she uses it.
The bubble is the key to understanding how Korda managed to deliver an outstanding bogey-free performance in challenging circumstances in Clifton, New Jersey, placing her back in contention for what would be a groundbreaking sixth consecutive LPGA Tour victory.
Korda, currently ranked first in the world, was six shots behind the lead after her initial round. Her impressive six-under-par 66 in the following round was one of only three bogey-free rounds on a wet and gusty day and catapulted her to third place on the leaderboard, four strokes behind Madelene Sagstrom and Rose Zhang who jointly lead.
Just last month, Korda became the sixth golfer in LPGA Tour history to win five consecutive titles, matching Annika Sörenstam and Nancy Lopez. Should she manage a very unlikely sixth title in succession, it would be a remarkable achievement not only would she be considered the best female golfer in the world, but it could also convincingly be argued that she is the best athlete on the planet at the moment - an incredibly dominant force in her field.
Korda elaborated after round two, "It's all about staying extremely present and in the moment, especially on this demanding golf course."
The 13-time LPGA Tour champion, who last suffered a defeat in January, has recently become a popular figure in the sporting world. Her star-studded attendance at the Met Gala this week demonstrates her increasing popularity.
In a pre-tournament interview with ESPN, Korda acknowledged her hectic schedule had meant she hadn't had time to reflect on her position in the history books.
"I'm just focusing on each shot, moment by moment," she stated, adding that the recent successes had taken their toll.
She decided to sit out the JM Eagle LA Championship last month because she was worn out.
"I simply felt like I needed a mental break," Korda told ESPN. "I had been going through so many high-pressure situations."
Now rested and back in action, Korda has positioned herself well on a course where she did not make the cut the previous year.
The LPGA statistics reveal that she has led at the halfway mark only once in her previous five victories this year, suggesting she is more than capable of catching up to Sagstrom and Zhang.
The question remains: if history threatens to come knocking in the final rounds, will "the bubble" serve as a shield from the burden of attempting to attain a goal that no other individual has managed before?
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After her impressive bogey-free performance, Nelly Korda is looking forward to playing golf on the final day, hoping to extend her remarkable streak of success. In light of her current form, many spectators are eager to witness if she can make history by becoming the first female golfer to win six consecutive titles on the LPGA Tour.
Source: edition.cnn.com
