Nelly Korda's U.S. Women's Open Meltdown: A Historic Septuple-Bogey

World No. 1 Nelly Korda's dominance was shattered in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open, as she suffered a catastrophic septuple-bogey on a par-3 hole, plummeting her to the bottom of the leaderboard.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda, the odds-on favorite heading into the U.S. Women's Open, endured a shocking meltdown in the tournament's first round, recording a disastrous septuple-bogey on a par-3 hole. The monumental blunder has severely compromised her chances of capturing the title.

Korda, fresh off a record-breaking five consecutive wins on the LPGA Tour, struggled mightily on the challenging terrain of Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania on Thursday. On her third hole of the day, a par-3 on the 12th, Korda's hopes of a strong start evaporated in a torrent of misfortune.

Her initial tee shot found a bunker, and her subsequent recovery shot rolled off the sloping green and into a stream adjacent to the hole. Korda incurred a penalty drop for the water hazard but sent her ball back into the stream, necessitating two more penalty drops.

After finally managing to get her ball on the green, eight feet from the pin, Korda missed the putt, resulting in a demoralizing septuple-bogey 10. The uncharacteristic error left her visibly shaken and significantly altered the tournament's complexion.

"I just didn’t play well today," Korda admitted after the round. "I didn’t hit it good. I found myself in the rough a lot." She acknowledged that her septuple-bogey was a significant setback at such a prestigious event.

"Overall, just a bad day in the office," Korda said, attempting to maintain a wry smile despite the setback.

The disastrous start has effectively shattered Korda's aspirations of becoming just the third player in LPGA history to win the U.S. Women's Open as the world's top-ranked golfer. Her 80 (+10) score relegated her to a disappointing T129 finish after the first round.

Korda's struggles on the opening day highlighted the unforgiving nature of the U.S. Women's Open, where even the slightest misstep can have dire consequences. Her meltdown serves as a stark reminder that even the most dominant players are susceptible to unexpected setbacks in this unforgiving tournament.

As the remaining rounds unfold, all eyes will be on whether Korda can rebound from her calamitous first round and salvage some semblance of a respectable finish. However, her chances of claiming the championship have undoubtedly taken a severe hit, and the septuple-bogey will forever remain an indelible mark on her performance at the 2024 U.S. Women's Open.