Freezing Florida weather hands Nelly Korda LPGA season opener win after officials cancel final round

Nelly Korda started the new LPGA season on top, even though she never got the chance to play the final round. Freezing cold weather in Orlando forced officials to cancel Sunday play, turning the season opener into a 54-hole event. With that decision, Korda was declared the winner of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.

The event had a strong field, with 16 of the world’s top 25 players in action. But Florida delivered rare winter conditions. Temperatures dropped into the mid-20s, and strong winds made the course unsafe and unfair for competition. The final round start time kept getting delayed as officials waited for conditions to improve. When temperatures barely reached 40 degrees, the tour decided it was not possible to finish the tournament. Nelly Korda had already done enough. Her brilliant third-round 64 gave her a three-shot lead, and no one could catch her when the weather stopped play.

Nelly Korda’s third-round surge seals 16th LPGA title as officials explain cold-weather call

Korda stayed steady all week before exploding on Saturday. She opened the tournament with a 68, followed by a tough 71 in cold and windy conditions. Then came the round that changed everything. She made early birdies, added an eagle, and kept attacking pins even as the temperature dropped. She closed with a 64, one of the best rounds of her career, to reach 13-under-par.

When eight players finished their delayed third rounds on Sunday, Korda was still in front. That confirmed her 16th LPGA Tour win and her first since November 2024. Amy Yang finished second, three shots back, while Brooke Henderson placed third.

The LPGA later explained why play could not continue. Ricki Lasky said the frozen ground was changing how golf balls reacted after landing. Shots were bouncing and rolling in ways players could not control, which made stroke play unfair. Lasky also explained that the celebrity event followed a different format, which is why it could continue.

Not everyone agreed, Annika Sorenstam told Golfweek she felt the course was playable. Still, officials stood by the decision, saying fairness for the full field mattered most.

Nelly Korda accepted the unusual win with calm honesty. She said the first event of the season is always a test and added, “Overall, I was very happy with my game. I saved my best for last.”


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