Nelly Korda showed calm dominance as the U.S. team completed a golf gold medal sweep at the Olympics

Before Team USA’s Nelly Korda started the final round of the women’s Olympic golf competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club, gold medalist and member of Team USA Xander Scuffele tweeted her a special message: “Bring home the gold @NellyKorda! I’ll be rooting for you tonight.”

For 54 holes, the player ranked No. 1 proved her dominance on the course. Heading into the final round, she led by three shots and maintained a level of composure no other player seemed to match. Before the start of the final round, he presented a series of unknowns, notably whether the field of 60 players would be able to complete 72 holes due to an impending tropical storm. But it was as if among all the unknowns one thing was clear: Korda had just won gold.

Even though player after player tried to get closer to Korda in the standings, she held on. She played her game. She did what she did best. She remained calm.

When she started to slide, with a double bogey in the seventh, she quickly recovered and had three consecutive birdies. Throughout the week, Korda did not hesitate to feel confident. She didn’t hesitate to say that despite being an Olympian for the first time, she didn’t really get the nerves.

“I’ve actually been very calm the past three days,” she said after the third round. “I didn’t really get nervous.”

For 72 holes, her game spoke for her: I’m No. 1 for a reason. When Korda sank her final putt on the 18th hole, she said it all silently. She deserved to be there. She deserved it. This gold medal was hers.

“It’s amazing,” Korda said. “Lydia [Ko, who took bronze for New Zealand] was playing great, so did Mone [Inami;, who won silver for Japan]. They both played really well, so we were all together there. It was very stressful, but I stayed the course, I fought pretty hard.

“I’ve had a pretty good run of events, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to play well, so you’re kind of trying to put expectations aside and go out and have a nice fresh week, enjoy. the Olympic experience because it’s such a unique and fun experience now that I’m doing it for the first time. And like Lydia said, you play for more than yourself, you play for your country too. , I can say that I really enjoyed my first Olympic Experience. “

It’s only been a few months since Korda claimed the No. 1 ranking worldwide. After winning her first major tournament at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the end of June, Korda rose to first place in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. In doing so, Korda only became the third American to hold the top spot since the ranking was introduced in 2006. Stacy Lewis was the last American to claim the top spot for four weeks in 2013 and 21 weeks in 2014. Before As, Cristie Kerr held the position for five weeks in 2010.

With over 60 countries represented, the LPGA remains one of the most diverse sports leagues. This season, players from 10 different countries have won events. And in Tokyo, there were 35 countries represented with three countries making up the podium (the United States, Japan and New Zealand).

Since his rookie season in 2017, Korda has won six wins, including a major. While it’s no surprise that Korda has been successful, this year she’s showing off a new kind of domination.

A domination that we have not seen from an American player.

Domination that ended South Korean Jin Young Ko’s 100-week race to the top of the standings.

A domination that won gold in his first appearance at the Olympics.

Domination that won the U.S. team’s first medal in women’s golf since 1900 (golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 after an absence of 112 years; no American ever reached the podium in 2016).

Domination by being the first player (male or female) to win a major and Olympic gold medal in the same year.

Korda’s victory gave the United States a gold medal in golf at these Games. In total, the United States had four men and four women in the top 15 in each of the golf competitions.

“It’s total GOAT status for me,” Jessica said of her sister’s year.

Even with a gold medal around his neck and his recent achievements on the Tour, Korda is still looking to the future and trying to figure out how to keep moving forward, how to keep that No.1 ranking.

“With sports it’s so different because you’re constantly looking to the future,” Korda said. “It never really permeates. I think I will come back to the season once the season is over, but right now there are still a lot of big events to come. When I look back, it’s just crazy.

“My parents always say I’m a lion because I’ve always, from a young age, always been super determined and super focused on what I want.”

Right now, for both American and women’s golf, Korda is leading the pack. And she doesn’t look back.