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Jun 27th, 2021
Korda and Salas go clear in Atlanta
It's looking like a two-horse race for Women's PGA Championship
Words: GolfPunk Photography: PGA of America
American Nelly Korda and Lizette Salas lead the field by five shots going into the final round at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Atlanta. Barring an unlikely meltdown by both players it looks like one of them will be lifting the trophy on Sunday afternoon.
Both players are looking for their first major title with Korda, having come close on three previous occasions, the last being her tied-second place at the ANA Inspiration in 2020.
Korda, who led by one overnight after shooting the lights out with her nine-under 63 on Friday, added a bogey-free 68 to move to fifteen-under-par. However, Salas went one better with her third successive 67 to join Korda at the top of the leaderboard.
ANA Inspiration winner Patty Tavatanakit shot a seven-under 65 to sit in third alongside Italy's Giulia Molinaro and Celine Boutier of France on ten-under.
Salas and Korda got off to a great start birdying the first two holes, but Salas added another birdie at the 3rd to join Korda in the lead.
Salas continued the birdie barrage with three more on the front nine as she made the turn in 30 to lead Korda by two shots. Just when Korda wondered how she was going to keep pace with her fellow American Salas's round hit the buffers.
Salas dropped her first shot in the event at the 10th and followed it with eight straight pars for her 67. Korda found a solitary birdie on the back nine, at the 13th, and it was enough to regain her a share of the lead.
"Lizette was rolling in some nice ones today, and I told myself, I've got to hit it close to even keep up with her," said Korda after her round.
"You just stick to your game plan and you kind of don't sway from it because it's very easy to do that when you're draining putts on top of each other."
Salas was upbeat after her round
"I'm really proud of myself for how I started and how I maintained that confidence throughout the round even though putts weren't dropping," Salas said.
"I was committed to each shot, and I knew -- I wasn't uncomfortable, which I haven't said that in a very long time. I was embracing it. I was greeting some fans and just enjoying the moment. It's been a while since I've done that."
Charley Hull slipped down the leaderboard after a two-over 74 to sit in a group that includes Ireland's Leona Maguire (70) twelve shots behind the leaders. Georgia Hall is one shot further back on two-under after a level-par 72.
Both players are looking for their first major title with Korda, having come close on three previous occasions, the last being her tied-second place at the ANA Inspiration in 2020.
Korda, who led by one overnight after shooting the lights out with her nine-under 63 on Friday, added a bogey-free 68 to move to fifteen-under-par. However, Salas went one better with her third successive 67 to join Korda at the top of the leaderboard.
ANA Inspiration winner Patty Tavatanakit shot a seven-under 65 to sit in third alongside Italy's Giulia Molinaro and Celine Boutier of France on ten-under.
Salas and Korda got off to a great start birdying the first two holes, but Salas added another birdie at the 3rd to join Korda in the lead.
Salas continued the birdie barrage with three more on the front nine as she made the turn in 30 to lead Korda by two shots. Just when Korda wondered how she was going to keep pace with her fellow American Salas's round hit the buffers.
Salas dropped her first shot in the event at the 10th and followed it with eight straight pars for her 67. Korda found a solitary birdie on the back nine, at the 13th, and it was enough to regain her a share of the lead.
"Lizette was rolling in some nice ones today, and I told myself, I've got to hit it close to even keep up with her," said Korda after her round.
"You just stick to your game plan and you kind of don't sway from it because it's very easy to do that when you're draining putts on top of each other."
Salas was upbeat after her round
"I'm really proud of myself for how I started and how I maintained that confidence throughout the round even though putts weren't dropping," Salas said.
"I was committed to each shot, and I knew -- I wasn't uncomfortable, which I haven't said that in a very long time. I was embracing it. I was greeting some fans and just enjoying the moment. It's been a while since I've done that."
Charley Hull slipped down the leaderboard after a two-over 74 to sit in a group that includes Ireland's Leona Maguire (70) twelve shots behind the leaders. Georgia Hall is one shot further back on two-under after a level-par 72.