The American golfer made five under and zero bogeys, but the truth is Nelly Korda still didn't feel like she'd had a great round.

That's the reality of playing alongside Kim Hyo Joo, the South Korean golfer. That was exactly the kind of pressure that can quietly rewire a player's approach if they let it, but Korda didn't.

The 27-year-old watched Kim make putt after putt at Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler on March 28. She knew Kim was playing better, but she didn’t let it affect her own game.

"She played unbelievable golf," Korda said. "It didn't feel like that good of a round."

So this is what it really means: she scored 5-under with no bogeys in a big LPGA event, and she is in a good position going into Sunday. That is exactly where the world No. 1 wants to be.

But that also shows the pressure Korda is under now. Even her clean rounds don’t feel special anymore because she has set such a high standard for herself week after week in 2026.

The real test on Saturday wasn't the scorecard. It was staying in her own lane while Kim made everything look effortless beside her.

She was asked if she ever felt the urge to force the issue and chase, and Korda answered honestly to that.

"It's really easy to kind of start pushing and start to make mistakes when you're trying to not to make that gap so big," Korda said. "You just really [have to] remind yourself to focus on yourself out there."

She didn't push, nor did she chase. But the gap didn't change her game plan by a single shot.

Why Nelly Korda Keeps Getting Close to Winning

This is probably the fourth or fifth time Korda and Kim have played together in golf. But last week, Korda almost caught Kim in the final round but didn’t make it.

Now it’s two weeks in a row, with the same kind of Sunday and a lot of pressure.

Still, Korda keeps finishing near the top. When she was asked how she stays mentally strong every week, she gave a simple answer.

"If I hit a bad shot, I'll figure it out," Korda said. "There is always a next shot, next hole where I can bounce back."

She even said her plan for Sunday is “boring” when she was asked about it.

"It's super boring, but just focus on golf, focus on my game."

No big changes, no overthinking, just stay calm and keep doing the same things that help her stay near the top.

Now Sunday feels like another chance against Kim. Same course, same rival, maybe a different result. Tell us what you think in the comments!

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Shraabona Sengupta