Slow start for Aussies at Chevron Championship
Nelly Korda – in action today – image LPGA / Getty Images
The nine-strong Australasian challenge has made a slow start to the Chevron Championship in Houston in Texas, Queensland golfer Cassie Porter the best of them at 2 under 70 in a share of 18th in the first major of the year.
Porter is one ahead of the Gold Coast golfer, Karis Davidson, who opened with a round of 1 under par 70 to be tied for 25th while New Zealand’s Lydia Ko is another shot back at even par and in a share of 38th.
Sydney’s Stephanie Kyriacou is at 1 over, along with Hannah Green and Robyn Choi, while Minjee Lee is at 2 over, Grace Kim at 3 over, and Gabi Ruffels at 6 over.
The leader is world number two, Nelly Korda, whose opening round of 65 has her two ahead of world number one Patti Tavatanakit of Thailand and Korea’s Somi Lee.
Korda explained her current happiness with her game, which has seen her record a win and three runner-up finishes in four starts this year.
“I’m just happy,” said Korda. “I love to practice. I love the setup that I have at home. I don’t think I go out ever without my coach David Whelan now. His commitment to me has been my entire career, if someone ever looks at my swing from when I was 14, prior to him, to what it is now, I would say he’s the one who built my swing.
“To spend time with him, it’s more like he relaxes me out practicing, and I enjoy going out and grinding and having him there alongside me.
“And then I also can’t thank David Angelotti enough, my putting coach, for coming out this week and grinding with me.
“I feel like I have a really great team around me. I have been with the same physio for so many years, Kim; Jason, since my second year on Tour. I have all my professional LPGA wins with him.
“So I think just there is a comfort and happiness inside me that makes me happy on the golf course, too.”
