Nelly Korda faced unexpected challenges during the opening round of the Chevron Championship, shooting a disappointing 77 that placed her 118th in a field of 132 players.

The World No. 1's typically fluid game showed signs of struggle, particularly on the greens. Korda recorded 33 putts during Thursday's round, significantly higher than her season average of 29.69, and nine more than leader Haeran Ryu. This putting performance left her 12 shots behind Ryu and in danger of missing the cut.


Earlier signs of trouble emerged during Tuesday's press conference when Korda acknowledged her putting concerns: "Just need my putter to click a little bit more to make those putts. I think that's where it's been lacking — the putts that I was making last year, I'm just not making as many this year."

Following the round, Golf Channel's Amy Rogers reported seeing Korda experimenting with a mallet-style putter, suggesting possible equipment changes ahead. "I just have to work," Korda told Rogers. "I'm not hitting it well."

Despite the setback, Korda maintained perspective on the challenging nature of golf: "That's just golf. I've gone through waves like this before, and if I just continue working at it, hopefully it does click."

This performance highlights the cyclical nature of professional golf, where even the world's top players face periods of difficulty. For Korda, the focus now shifts to making necessary adjustments to defend her title and advance to the weekend's play.

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