Nelly Korda Battles Through Injury and Texas Heat to Stay in Contention at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

FRISCO, Texas — Despite nursing a lingering neck injury and battling the unrelenting Texas heat, World No. 1 Nelly Korda remains firmly in the mix at the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Korda carded an even-par 72 in Thursday’s opening round at Fields Ranch East, sitting four shots behind first-round leader Atthaya “Jeeno” Thitikul, who fired a bogey-free 68.

For Korda, a major victory this week would be a statement — not just because of the competitive field, but also due to her ongoing battle with a nagging neck issue. The 2021 Women’s PGA champion revealed earlier this week that she experienced a neck spasm during Monday’s practice round, triggered by a shot out of the thick Northbridge Bermuda rough. The flare-up is a recurrence of an injury she’s been managing since last fall.

“Even par to start the major — I mean, it was windier than I thought it would be,” Korda told reporters post-round.

“So it played a little tougher… I’m pretty happy with my first round in these conditions. It was hot. It takes a toll on you, the Texas heat.”

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Playing Through Pain

Korda’s resilience has become part of her narrative in recent years. Though the pain has somewhat subsided with treatment and support (including taping her neck), she admits she’s still not fully comfortable — particularly when rotating her neck or trying to sleep.

“It’s better. Getting better every day, which is nice,” said the 26-year-old. “Just because I injured it last year, whenever I tweak my neck, it takes longer to heal. This one wasn’t as bad as Vegas, thankfully.”

She was referring to an incident earlier this season at the LPGA Match Play in Las Vegas, where she suffered a severe spasm overnight and couldn’t move before a match against Ariya Jutanugarn. Now, she’s managing the recovery with caution, knowing her body’s history and limitations.

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Poised Despite Pressure

While Korda remains without a win so far in 2025 — a contrast to her dominant seven-victory campaign in 2024 — her consistency remains elite. She leads the LPGA Tour in scoring average at 69.07 and has been the most consistent performer in major championships since the start of 2024. Over the last seven majors, she’s a cumulative 14-under-par — the best in the world by a significant margin. Ruoning Yin is second at 9-under.

According to KPMG Performance Insights, Korda has gained a full stroke off the tee on the field across the last two major seasons, a testament to her elite driving accuracy and distance.

“I was hitting it well off the tee and into the greens, but just didn’t give myself too many great looks,” Korda said of her Thursday round.

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“I think I played pretty solid for the first day of a major. The pins were definitely tough out there today.”

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That shot-making precision — combined with her mental resilience — is why Korda remains the player to beat, even in challenging conditions and with injury concerns.

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Thitikul Closes In

The pressure this week isn’t just about winning another major. Korda’s top spot in the Rolex Rankings is on the line. Should Jeeno Thitikul, the 21-year-old Thai phenom, claim victory at Fields Ranch and Korda finish 11th or worse, the No. 1 ranking will change hands. Thitikul, who briefly held the top spot for two weeks in late 2022, was rock-solid in her opening round and has shown signs she’s ready to take that next step.

The two are on a collision course — not just on the leaderboard, but in the broader narrative of the LPGA Tour. Korda has held the No. 1 position for 65 consecutive weeks, and Thitikul appears eager to challenge that dominance.

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Course Conditions to Intensify

Korda and the rest of the field will likely face increasingly difficult conditions as the tournament progresses. With hot, dry weather in the forecast and Texas winds expected to pick up, the already firm layout at Fields Ranch East is projected to bake out and speed up even more.

“The golf course just kind of plays firmer and faster every single day,” Korda noted. “They got a little bit of rain last week, but with the sun and wind, it’s going to get tougher.”

That shift in course conditions may benefit players like Korda, who thrive on shot control and have the creativity to manage firm greens and tricky pin locations.

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Final Thoughts

Nelly Korda’s opening round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship may not have grabbed headlines — but it was a quiet show of grit, focus, and composure. Navigating injury, oppressive heat, and swirling winds, she remains within striking distance of the lead. More importantly, she continues to reinforce why she’s been the standard in women’s golf for the past year.

While Thitikul may be knocking at the door, Korda isn’t backing down. If her health holds up — and her game trends as expected — she could very well be lifting another major trophy by week’s end.