Nelly Korda's six-win streak extinguished after a 73-stroke round

Nelly Korda's quest for a historic sixth consecutive victory on the LPGA Tour nearly evaporated after the third round of the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup, where she trailed the leader by 11 strokes. Nelly Korda, the world's number one female golfer, carded a 73 in the third round of the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup at the Upper Montclair Country Club, trailing leader Madelene Sagstrom by 11 strokes heading into the final round.

According to Justin Ray, the primary data analyst for KPMG Performance Insights on the LPGA Tour, Korda's 73 was the first time in 22 rounds she failed to surpass the course average of 71.7 strokes.

Meanwhile, Sagstrom, seeking her second tournament victory, shot a bogey-free 66 in the third round to reach a total score of 19-under, leading by one stroke over Rose Zhang (67). They faced off twice in fourball matches at the Solheim Cup last year, where Sagstrom defeated Zhang 1-0-1. Sagstrom, aged 30, explained that when competing alongside Zhang, she aimed to maintain the rhythm she had developed since finishing with a 65 at the JM Eagle LA Championship two weeks prior. As for Zhang, despite facing an eight-year LPGA veteran, she showed no signs of concern. She observed and identified the contrast between her youthful energy and the experienced energy of a seasoned golfer like Sagstrom, viewing it as a learning opportunity in the early stages of her long-term career.