LPGA News: Nelly Korda takes over U.S. Solheim Cup points lead

Nelly Korda was unable to keep pace with Brooke Henderson at the season-opening Tournament of Champions, but her fourth-place finish was good enough to take over the top spot in the United States’ points standings for Solheim Cup qualifying.

Korda entered the tournament with 235 points — 23 behind leader Lexi Thompson. She vaulted to 262 after the TOC, which Thompson did not qualify for.

While Korda remained No. 2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings behind Lydia Ko, Thompson fell a spot to No. 7 behind Henderson.

The top seven players in the Solheim Cup standings will earn automatic spots on Team USA. Danielle Kang maintained third place in the standings with 212 points and is followed by Jennifer Kupcho (196), Andrea Lee (181), Lilia Vu (178) and Megan Khang (154).

The team will also include the top two players in the Rolex Rankings who are not already eligible, along with three picks by captain Stacy Lewis.

Nos. 8-10 in the current standings are Jessica Korda (148), Ryann O’Toole (122) and Alison Lee (116). Kang and O’Toole, who tied for 12th at the TOC along with Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, were the highest finishers among the eight Americans in the 29-player field behind Korda.

The team will be finalized on Aug. 28 following the CP Women’s Open.

The 2023 Solheim Cup between Team USA and Team Europe will take place at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain from Sept. 22-24.

Team Europe is currently led by Sweden’s Maja Stark, who has 168.17 points following her tie for second at the TOC. Fellow Swede Linn Grant is second with 154.50 points, followed by Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (88.75), Slovenia’s Pia Babnik (88.00) and France’s Celine Boutier (82.07).

England’s Georgia Hall (76.63) vaulted to sixth place after tying with Stark at the TOC. She also made the biggest move in the Rolex Rankings, climbing four spots to No. 13.

Team Europe will comprise the top two players in the Europe Solheim Cup standings, the top four players in the Rolex Rankings not already eligible and six picks by captain Suzann Pettersen.

–Field Level Media