Hyo Joo Kim Defeats Nelly Korda to Retain Ford Championship Title and Secure Back-to-Back Wins

Posted : 30 March 2026

Hyo Joo Kim produced a composed final round to successfully defend her Ford Championship title on Sunday, finishing with a 28-under-par total of 260. The 30-year-old South Korean entered the history books by setting a new LPGA Tour 54-hole scoring record of 191 earlier in the week. Despite a late challenge from American Nelly Korda, Kim closed with a three-under 69 to secure a two-shot victory.

The tournament appeared to be a runaway success for Kim after she carded two remarkable rounds of 61 during the week. At one stage, she seemed poised to break the all-time 72-hole scoring record of 257. However, a double-bogey on the par-four eighth hole after a wayward tee shot briefly opened the door for her rivals. Korda, who started the day four shots back, moved within a single stroke following Kim’s mistake.

The momentum shifted back to the defending champion on the ninth and tenth holes. While Korda struggled with her putting, missing a short par attempt on the ninth, Kim responded with a brilliant approach shot on the tenth to set up a tap-in birdie. This two-shot swing restored Kim's cushion and demoralized the American challenger. Korda eventually finished with an eagle-birdie flourish for a 67, but it was not enough to catch the leader.

This victory marks the first time in Kim’s career that she has won in consecutive weeks, having also defeated Korda at the Founders Cup seven days ago. Kim now joins legend Inbee Park as one of the few players since 1980 to win LPGA titles in their teens, 20s, and 30s. Following the win, Kim joked about asking Korda how it felt to win back-to-back, referencing Korda’s historic five-win streak in 2024.

Korda’s performance was statistically the best of her career in terms of score relative to par, finishing at 26-under. Despite her brilliant form, she has finished as runner-up to Kim in her last two starts. Korda praised Kim’s phenomenal play post-match, noting that the South Korean's consistency serves as a major motivation for her own game.

The leaderboard saw Japan’s Minami Katsu finish alone in third place after a final-round 65. Lydia Ko, who grabbed headlines with an opening-round 60, faded over the weekend to finish in fourth place, eight shots behind the winner. The victory is projected to move Kim to a career-high world ranking of number three on Monday.

The LPGA Tour now heads into a busy spring schedule with the hierarchy at the top of the women’s game looking increasingly competitive. While Jeeno Thitikul remains the world number one, the rivalry between Kim and Korda has become the defining storyline of the 2026 season so far.

Hyo Joo Kim Defeats Nelly Korda to Retain Ford Championship Title and Secure Back-to-Back Wins

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