Nelly Korda posts career-worst score, drops 72 spots to miss cut at PGA

Nelly Korda missed. Again. And on the Golf Channel, commentator Kay Cockerill laughed, shrugging your shoulders, keep-the-golf-bag-in-the-closet.

Said Cockerill: “Ohhhh noooo.”

Announcer Grant Boone said: “How many ends today, Kay? That's at least five.”

Said Cockerill: “Well, how many edges, how many crazy blocks – I mean, it's like the golf gods got together and met him.” I don't know why.”

It was – something. Friday at Sahalee Country Club, in the second round of the Women's PGA, Korda:

– Bogeyed his first four holes

– Bogeyed the par-5 sixth hole after hitting his second shot 85 yards and his third shot 103 yards

– Pass six over 42 front nine

– He went out of bounds with his second shot on the par-4 15th and double bogeyed

– Pass three over 39 on the back nine

– Two-putted twice (holes 2 and 4) and missed putts within 10 meters four times (holes 2, 4, 5 and 11)

– Hit eight of 14 fairways and eight of 18 greens

All told, Korda shot a nine-over 81, his worst score as a professional, according to the Golf Channel. It cost him 72 spots on the leaderboard – he had started the day in a tie for second after an impressive opening round of 69, and finished tied for 74th.

But to make the cut, he needed to finish a stroke better – although he birdied his final hole. The world No 1 will miss the weekend's play – and continues an unfortunate trend. After winning the Chevron Championship earlier this year for his second major title, he has now missed three straight finals, which, according to golf statistician Justin Ray, is a career first for him.

After that, Korda did not have a press conference, but he told Golfweek's Beth Ann Nichols says:

“Golf is very recent for me. There are no words for how I'm playing right now. … I did a lot at the beginning of the year and I'm taking it back.”

Without a doubt, Korda leads the list of surprising players who missed the cut. Here are five more:

-Megan Khang

That's intense: 81, 76

It is surprising because: The world No. 16 finished second in his last event. But a first round of 81 sunk him.

— Alison Lee

That's intense: 81, 78

It is surprising because: The world number 18 was playing better than anyone at the end of last year. But he also shot a first round 81.

– Nasa Hataoka

That's intense: 77, 74

It is surprising because: He missed just two cuts this year – and was DQ'd once – and missed one cut last year. But eight bogeys and a double bogey were too much to overcome.

— Jiyai Shin

That's intense: 75, 78

It is surprising because: He is a two-time major winner. But he didn't make birdies in the second round.

— Carlota Ciganda

What's more: 78, 75

It is surprising because: The Solheim Cup star made just three birdies in two rounds.

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for planning, writing and promoting news on the golf course. And when he's not writing about how to hit the golf ball forward and straight, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash down his scores. You can contact him about any of these topics – his news, his game or his beer – at [email protected].