Golf is a sport rich in tradition. The Masters has the green jacket. The US Open has Father’s Day Sunday. And the Chevron Championship is no exception.
The Chevron Championship, the first women’s major of the year, boasts the custom of its victor leaping into a pond, dating back to 1988.
And Nelly Korda ensured that tradition was maintained on Sunday when she won the major, the third of her career, albeit in a peculiar setting.
Korda, who returned to World No. 1 with the win, jumped into the water beside the 18th green with the trophy to celebrate her victory as tradition dictates. However, this time, the 27-year-old found herself plunging into a pool, not a pond.
Unlike previous editions of the Chevron Championship, when players had the iconic Poppie’s Pond at Mission Hills in California or the lake between the ninth and 18th holes at Carlton Woods to jump into, Memorial Park does not boast a natural water hazard near the 18th green.
But, desperate to cling to tradition, the LPGA built a makeshift water element to keep the most memorable aspect to this major.
Nelly Korda jumped into a temporary plunge pool at the edge of the 18th green after her win
The 27-year-old claimed victory at the Chevron Championship, the first major of the year
Officials installed a pool that measures 15 feet long, 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep and is located to the right of the 18th green. It was considered a temporary immovable obstruction, meaning for the first time in championship golf, a player could hit into water and get free relief.
While the infrastructure raised eyebrows among golf fans online, Korda stuck to tradition as she took a dip in the plunge pool.
She cannon-balled into the water alongside her sister, fellow professional golfer Jessica Korda, two-year-old nephew Greyson, and her caddie Jason McDede.
Korda’s victory at the Chevron Championship was worthy of her return to World No 1 and even attracted the support of NBA legend LeBron James.
‘3 holes left to play. Bring it on home Nelly!’ the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer posted on X as Korda headed down the home stretch on Sunday afternoon.
Staked to a five-shot lead at the start, Korda was efficient as ever and no one could get closer than four shots all afternoon at Memorial Park. She closed with a 2-under 70 for a five-shot victory to capture the third major of her career.
Korda cannon-balled into the water alongside her caddie and sister Jessica Korda (center)
It is tradition for the winner of the major championship to jump into the water
With her third major victory, Korda returned to her spot as the women’s World No. 1
The victory was her 17th on the LPGA and 21st worldwide, and it was enough for the 27-year-old American star to move back to the top of the women’s world ranking for the first time since August.
Korda not only won wire-to-wire, it was never really a contest. She hit 5-iron to 5 feet for birdie on her 16th hole of the opening round Thursday to take the lead and never trailed again.
She joined Juli Inkster (1989) and Amy Alcott (1991), both at Nabisco Dinah Shore, as the only players in the last 50 years to win LPGA majors when leading by multiple shots after each round.
And by the look of it, Korda might just be getting started on another stellar season. She has played in the final group all five tournaments she has played this year, winning the season opener and the first major, finishing runner-up in the other three.
