Nelly Korda is back in the spotlight this week at the CPKC Women's Open, and the world No. 1 said she is eager to get back on the winning track after a summer stretch that brought both the highs and the occasional reminder of how quickly golf can change.
Korda has already won four times this season, including two majors, and she opened the year by winning three of her first six starts on the LPGA Tour. But her run also included her first cut of the season at the Amundi Evian Championship, along with a tie for 16th at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open before she tied for fourth at the AIG Women's Open and clinched the Rolex Annika Major Award.
A strong season, with a few bumps
That mix of results is part of why Korda said she is focused on keeping things simple. She said there have been “incredible highs” this season, while also acknowledging that Evian was “maybe a little bit questionable.” Her point was less about one result and more about the rhythm of a long year.
“That’s just kind of how golf is,” Korda said. “You sometimes ride the wave of the highs and then sometimes golf humbles you. Sometimes, maybe sometimes a lot, too.” She added that she is “very happy” with her year, her team and the way her body has held up so far.
Korda also pointed to the mental side of the game, saying that focusing on one shot at a time helps her avoid spending too much energy on what is going wrong during a round. That mindset, she said, can free a player up to attack the next hole and stay ready for the next opportunity.
What the CPKC Women's Open means this year
The event arrives with a slightly different feel than it did in 2019, when it carried a US$2.25 million purse and featured 98 of the top 100 golfers in the world. The 2026 CPKC Women's Open will offer $2.75 million, and this year's field is closer to 70 of the top 100 golfers in the world.
That is still a strong lineup, especially with Korda and Brooke Henderson among the headliners. But the purse also looks modest when set beside newer stops on the calendar, including The Classic in Corning, N.Y., which was announced this year as a new addition to the 2027 schedule with a $5 million purse.
Korda is playing this week at Royal Mayfair Golf Club, with next year's tournament set for Royal Ottawa Golf Club. The event is also expected to return to Vancouver in 2028, keeping the championship on a rotating path across Canada.
For Korda, the immediate goal is simple: keep building on a season that has already produced plenty of success, while shaking off the less-clean results that have come with it. At No. 1 in the world, that is often the difference between a good year and a great one.
