FRISCO, Texas – It’s not Oakmont rough, but the penalty for missing a fairway at the KPMG Women’s PGA is no joke. Nelly Korda hit a shot out of the rough on the front nine Monday and her neck went into full spasm.
“It’s getting better,” said Korda, who had kinesiology tape stretched across the back of her neck on Tuesday. “But yeah, it was not very good yesterday.”
Korda missed several events in the fall Asian swing last year after suffering from a neck injury. The world No. 1 travels with longtime physio Kim Baughman, who will no doubt be busy throughout the week at Fields Ranch East. It’s worth noting, however, that the fairways are wide on the Gil Hanse design, though they have been narrowed since the Senior PGA two years ago. And no one on the LPGA drives the ball better than Korda.
“Obviously, with the injury that I had last year, every single time something kind of flares up in my neck now, I think I feel it a little bit more than what I used to,” said Korda.
“But I have a great physio who takes care of me. Trying to work through it, but I’ll be ready by Thursday.”
Korda tees off at 8:28 a.m. local time on Thursday alongside No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and No. 3 Lydia Ko.
When asked about the test Fields Ranch East provides, Korda said it’s all “pretty difficult” depending on the wind.
“All the par-5s are pretty much three-shot holes for me,” said Korda, “so just dialing in. The downwind holes, I think, are going to play probably the hardest just because it’s quite hard to hold the green, and if you do hit it a little bit short with that fluffy Bermuda, it kind of just stays, so you can’t play for a run-up.
“I just think every hole looks really different. You just have to pay attention all 18 holes.”
While Korda looks for her first victory of 2025, Thitikul looks for her first major championship title. The best player on tour without a major laughed when asked if she puts extra pressure on herself to win one.
“Every major, I just want to make the cut, to be honest,” she said with a big smile. “It would be really great to win it.”
Thitikul missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills but has seven top-10 finishes in 24 career major starts. She’s had her coach with her since the Women’s Open, and said they’re tweaking but that it’s “not too much of a big deal.”
Two years ago, the Thai star bought a home in the Dallas area, and she lives 25 minutes from Fields Ranch. She chose Dallas mostly because it’s easier to travel the world from here, particularly to Asia. She likes the food and weather, obviously preferring heat and, with TPC Craig Ranch undergoing renovations, now plays out of Dallas Atlantic Club.
While she lives close, Thitikul hasn’t spent much time at the PGA of America’s home. She came for the first time on Saturday to practice and played the course for the first time on Sunday. Wind, she said, will be key.
“Making par is not that hard,” she said, “but like making birdie should be tricky.”
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