Nelly Korda takes the lead in Aramco Team Series, aims for 5th win of 2021

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — The Aramco Team Series – New York is two thirds of the way to completion, and the final round is sure to be full of excitement. Here are a few things to know heading into the final round.

World No. 1 in the lead

Nelly Korda’s name has been a fixture near the top of leaderboards in 2021, and this week at Glen Oaks Club is no different. The 23-year-old superstar holds a one-shot lead in the individual standings at the Aramco Series after rounds of 69 and 66 over the first 36 holes.

Through 15 holes in her second round, Korda was on pace to break Glen Oaks competitive course record of 64 as she sat at eight under walking to the 16th tee. However, bogeys on 16 and 18 coming home foiled her flawless round as she settled for 66 by day’s end.

Tomorrow, Korda will aim for her fifth worldwide win during the calendar year, and her second since ascending to world No. 1 in late June.

“I just need to go with the flow and stick with my game plan,” Korda said.

A repeat in the works?

Allison Lee notched her first professional victory just two months ago at the Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande, and she has a terrific opportunity tomorrow to capture No. 2 at the New York edition of the event. The 26-year-old is eight under through 36 holes, and trails leader Nelly Korda by just one shot.

Lee, a former top-25 player in the world, has struggled in recent years as she fell outside the top 200 in the world as recently as March of this year. However, she’s played strong over the latter half of the summer — including her win in Spain in August — as she looks to become the first two-time winner in the Aramco Team Series.

Major winner in the mix

Sophia Popov has not won since her out-of-nowhere triumph at the AIG Women’s Open last summer, but tomorrow she’ll have a chance to do just that. The German is T6 through 36 holes at Glen Oaks, just three shots behind Nelly Korda’s lead.

“I just need to stay aggressive,” Popov said. “Today in some key moments of the round I just wasn’t as aggressive as I feel like I should’ve been.”

After a bogey-free Day 1 at the Aramco Team Series, Popov was unable to keep bogeys off the card during Round 2. She made three bogeys and a double to go along with four birdies on Friday as she fired a 73.

Nonetheless, Popov is still within striking distance of Korda’s lead heading into the final round, and she’ll have an excellent opportunity to earn another victory tomorrow.