Icy temperatures and organizational issues shorten the LPGA season opener, as Nelly Korda secures her 16th tour victory.
The LPGA Tour season-opening event, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, was scheduled from January 29 to February 1 at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. However, unusually cold and very windy weather in the \”Sunshine State\” forced tournament officials to cancel the final round.
Two tournaments took place concurrently on the course. The LPGA season kickoff was played in a 72-hole stroke play format, alongside a competition featuring the top qualified amateurs from the week’s Pro-Am. Each professional was paired with two celebrities or amateurs, who alternated each round, with the amateurs and celebrities competing under a Modified Stableford scoring system.
Nelly Korda Takes Advantage of Chaos to Secure 16th LPGA Title
Nelly Korda surged to the top of the leaderboard with an impressive 64 on Saturday, holding a three-stroke lead. However, the event’s organization soon descended into disorder as eight players had to suspend their third round early Saturday due to cold and strong winds, only finishing on Sunday afternoon. Korda ultimately secured her 16th LPGA Tour victory. Amy Yang finished second, three strokes behind, followed by Brooke Henderson in third place.
The decision to end the LPGA tournament early on Sunday was delayed, drawing heavy criticism over communication and procedure. The final day started with temperatures around -4°C and wind gusts up to 24 km/h. Officials postponed the final round multiple times, hoping for improved conditions. When temperatures only rose to 4°C, it was decided that the tournament could not continue, despite warmer forecasts for Monday.
The LPGA stated the course became unplayable as cold temperatures combined with strong winds caused balls to roll uncontrollably on the greens. Meanwhile, the amateur event started at 10 a.m. with a nine-hole round.
Confusion Over Different Treatment of Players
Golf journalist Beth Ann Nichols from Golfweek, present at the event, highlighted the confusion on social media. Journalists waited since 10 a.m. in the press room for explanations on why amateurs played over nine holes while LPGA players waited in the clubhouse for a decision. Even after four hours, no clear update on tournament continuation was given.
An official LPGA statement later confirmed the tournament was shortened to 54 holes due to weather conditions preventing completion of 72 holes. The similar forecast for Monday further justified this decision.
Conflicting Views on Course Conditions and Criticism of LPGA Communication
Despite freezing conditions, not everyone agreed with the decision. Swedish player Annika Sörenstam, competing in the amateur event, described the course as playable, surprised by the early stop. Former tennis player and amateur participant Mardy Fish compared the greens to playing on concrete that morning.
LPGA Chief Business and Operations Officer Ricky Lasky explained the firm decision, stating the ground was extremely hard and impacted shot trajectories during practice. She acknowledged the contrasting situations—celebrities playing under harsh conditions in a Modified Stableford event versus LPGA pros