Can Anyone Rewrite History at The ANNIKA | LPGA

Will Nelly Korda’s dominance continue this week at Pelican Golf Club?

The LPGA has returned to Belleair, Florida, for the fourth consecutive year to host The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. In 2020, Sei Young Kim claimed victory with a 14-under score. Since then, Nelly Korda has shown a strong performance at the Donald Ross designed course just outside Tampa. She clinched the event in 2021 with four rounds in the 60s and 24 birdies. Korda successfully defended her title last year in a rain-shortened 54-hole event with 18 more birdies and three more rounds in the 60s.

What sets Korda apart at the Pelican Golf Club? Her remarkable approach play. The par-70 layout consists of two par 5s, four par 3s, and 12 par 4s. With Bermuda grass covering the course from tee to green, players must handle the par-4 approach shots with great skill. Korda’s power off the tee has led to shorter iron shots into the tricky green complexes, which are further complicated by Ross’s architecture and the presence of over 50 bunkers and 10 water hazards. In the previous year, twelve players finished in the top 10, gaining an average of over 4 strokes against the field on approach.

Ruoning Yin leads the field in approach play, closely followed by Jin Young Ko, Megan Khang, and Hae Ran Ryu. The top 12 players also excelled on the greens, with an average gain of over three strokes. Among the leading putters at Pelican Golf Club are Hye Jin Choi, Ayaka Furue, Lilia Vu, and Atthaya Thitikul.

Thitikul is one of the eight top 10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings competing for the $3.25 million purse this week. To make the weekend and improve their standing in the Race to the CME Globe, players will need to compete on the par-4 scoring, where players like (Jin Young) Ko, Thitikul, Linn Grant, and Celine Boutier excel. Over 70% of Korda’s sub-par scores in her back-to-back wins came on the par 4s.

The introduction of Annika Sorenstam as the event host has elevated the tournament, with the course and club creating a stellar championship atmosphere. The excitement is palpable, and with improved weather conditions, the stage is set for an exhilarating weekend.

Can Nelly Korda secure a third consecutive win? Despite her recent form in 2023, her past performances in Tampa cannot be ignored. Perhaps a chat with the host, Annika Sorenstam, will reignite her winning ways at a course where she has always been a formidable contender.

Keith Stewart, an award-winning PGA Professional, covers the LPGA and PGA TOUR for various publications. For more insightful golf content, check out his weekly newsletter called Read The Line.