It’s not every day that LPGA players get to tee it up alongside their PGA Tour peers, but on Friday, Nelly Korda made her QBE Shootout debut with her partner, Denny McCarthy. The duo played alongside PGA Tour veterans Max Homa and Kevin Kisner.
In Friday’s scramble format, Korda and McCarthy finished at 12 under par — two shots shy of Homa and Kisner’s total of 14 under, and four shots shy of Charley Hoffman and Ryan Palmer’s lead of 16 under.
But after the round, Homa and Kisner had nothing but positive things to say about Korda’s game.
“We talked about it all day,” Homa said. “It was a little bit outrageous. She drove it down the middle on every hole, she almost hit the pin three times, hit it to like two inches on one par 4, then from way too far that next one, she almost hit the pin. And chipped it great, so I don’t know how she does not win every week. It’s a testament to these other ladies that anyone can even sniff beating her because that was wildly impressive.”
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Kisner concurred.
“I think I called her the Tiger Woods of the LPGA Tour at one point,” he said. “And then through about seven or eight holes I said she’s hit every shot just like she wants to for eight holes. Like does she hit a bad shot? I have no idea, I’ve never seen her hit a bad shot. We were laughing all day.”
Kisner and Homa said they vocally speculated about how it’s possible Korda, who’s currently ranked second in the world, doesn’t win every tournament.
“I asked her out there if she wins every tournament,” Kisner said. “She said no. I’m like, I don’t believe you.”
“Up for debate,” Homa said. “She said Lydia [Ko] gets them all. I think they would have a nice battle.”
While fans of the LPGA Tour can look forward to continued showdowns between current World No. 1 Ko and No. 2 Korda, the Tour’s men can anticipate getting more time up-close with the top women in the game, too. Starting next year, the QBE Shootout will reportedly become a mixed-team event.
Word to the wise: Better lock down your partner ASAP!