Aki Iwai Fires 63 to Lead Evian Championship by 2 as Nelly Korda Stumbles to 74

Q: With her grand slam quest in jeopardy, can Nelly Korda overcome an 11-shot deficit at the Evian Championship?

No. Nelly Korda did not overcome the 11-shot deficit at the Evian Championship because she missed the cut. After opening with a 3-over 74 that left her 11 behind first-round leader Aki Iwai, Korda improved with a 69 on Friday but still finished at 1 over for the tournament. The cut line settled at even par, leaving her tied for 67th and outside the top 65 and ties who advanced to the weekend. That ended both her immediate title chances and, for this week, her bid to complete the career Grand Slam. Korda entered Evian needing a victory there or at the AIG Women’s Open to secure the LPGA-recognized career Grand Slam, having already won three different major titles. An Evian win also would have moved her into the LPGA Hall of Fame, where she began the week two points short of the required total. The missed cut is notable beyond this tournament. It was Korda’s first early exit on the LPGA Tour in two years and snapped a streak of 34 consecutive cuts made. She even had a chance late Friday, needing a birdie on her final hole to survive, but could not convert. So while her Grand Slam pursuit remains alive for the season, it is no longer possible at Evian. Her next and last chance this year will come at the AIG Women’s Open.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 9

Aki Iwai opened the Evian Championship with an 8-under 63, taking a two-shot first-round lead after making eight birdies without a bogey.
Three birdies over her final four holes, including the par-5 18th, pushed the 24th-ranked Japanese player clear at Evian Resort Golf Club.
Perrine Delacour sat second at 6-under 65, while a group at 5-under 66 included recent Women's PGA champion Haeran Ryu and world No. 5 Charley Hull, who rallied with a back-nine 31.
Nelly Korda, winner of this season's Chevron Championship and U.S. Women's Open, fell 11 shots back at 3-over 74 after a double bogey on her opening hole; 2023 champion Celine Boutier shot 76.
The Evian Championship is the fourth women's major of the season and carries a $9.1 million purse.