By the end of the third round, the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup seemed to have narrowed down to a two-player race between Madelene Sagstrom and Rose Zhang, as both players had created a gap of at least 10 strokes from the chasing pack. The Swedish golfer had a one-stroke advantage over the American "rose". Even Nelly Korda had no chance of competing for the top spot due to her round of 73.
On the back-nine, Zhang managed a series of pars in the first 4 holes, while Sagstrom added another birdie on the 12th hole to widen the gap to 3 strokes. With only 5 holes left to play, Sagstrom seemed to have one hand on the trophy. However, fortune did not favor the European Solheim Cup "warrior" as Rose Zhang unexpectedly surged ahead, scoring 4 birdies in the last 5 holes to "conquer" the field.
A bogey-free round of 66 helped Rose Zhang defeat Madelene Sagstrom by a final margin of 2 strokes, earning the talented American golfer her second professional title and a winner's check worth $450,000.
The 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup week began with all eyes on Nelly Korda, the world number one golfer, as she was expected to become the first female golfer in LPGA history to win six consecutive times. However, two rounds of 73 over the weekend placed her in T-7, ending her unbeaten streak.
In the past, Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) were the only golfers to win five consecutive times on the LPGA Tour. Both failed to make it into the top 10 in their attempts to win a sixth.