Nelly Korda regains dominant form to lead Women's Open by 3 - ESPN

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Nelly Korda looks to be back to her dominant best at the home of golf.

The top-ranked American mastered more blustery conditions at St. Andrews by shooting a bogey-free, 4-under 68 in the second round on Friday to take a three-stroke lead at the Women's British Open.

Korda won the first women's major of 2024 — the Chevron Championship in April — and is on track to capture the last one, too. There have also been five more titles in a year when she has consolidated her status as the best player in the women's game, even if her top form has deserted her in the last couple of months.

Worse for Korda's rivals is that she is warming to links golf, too.

«This year in general, I've won on just so many different types of grasses, in different types of conditions, that you just kind of always have to adapt,» said Korda, who was 8-under par for the tournament. «That's the same thing in tennis, same thing in life.

»You're always adapting to your situations at hand, and I think that's what's so fun about links golf — you're literally starting it 30 yards left of your target, and I'm not a fade player but I'm hitting massive fades. I think it's fun hitting these little low drivers, too. I'm having fun, and I enjoy links golf a lot."

Korda has played her first two rounds with defending champion Lilia Vu and England's Charley Hull, a crowd favorite playing in her home major, and the marquee group has lived up to its billing.

Hull, the overnight leader by one stroke after a first-round 67, shot even par and was tied for second place on 5 under with Vu, who shot 70.

They were outplayed by Korda on a day when the wind wasn't quite as brutal as Day 1, but Hull was bullish heading into the weekend.

«Only three shots