In a turn of events that has Las Vegas buzzing and the LPGA Tour scrambling to re-evaluate the field, the queen has been dethroned before even reaching the weekend’s main battle. Nelly Korda, the reigning World No. 1 and, crucially, the defending champion of the T-Mobile Match Play, has been sensationally eliminated from the competition at Shadow Creek.
Just picture the scene: Korda returned to Vegas not just as the top player on the planet, riding a remarkable wave of form, but as the champion looking to retain her crown at this very unique and challenging event. She conquered Shadow Creek last year, proving her mettle in the demanding match-play format. Expectations were sky-high; another dominant performance felt almost inevitable.
But the brutal reality of elite golf, especially in a format designed to test nerve and consistency under pressure, hit hard this week. The early rounds mixed stroke play and group match play, a crucible designed to whittle down the field to the final eight for the weekend’s knockout bracket. And this year, the defending champion didn’t make the cut.
While she battled hard through the initial stages, Korda couldn’t secure the necessary points or wins within her group to advance. A key loss came against the formidable Ariya Jutanugarn, a former World No. 1 herself, proving that no match is a given at this level. That defeat, combined with the overall results within the group stage, meant Korda’s title defense was cut brutally short. When the final calculations were made, the defending champion’s name was shockingly absent from the list of players moving on to the weekend quarterfinals.
Make no mistake, this is a genuine stunner. Defending champions often carry an aura, a familiarity with the course and conditions that gives them an edge. Korda, with her recent dominance added to that, seemed like the safest bet in the field. Her failure to even reach the one-on-one knockout stage sends a clear message: Shadow Creek demands perfection, and this week, even the best player in the world couldn’t find it consistently enough.
Her premature exit, along with other high-profile eliminations like Lydia Ko and Charley Hull before the weekend, completely transforms the complexion of the tournament. The throne Korda occupied is now vacant, the crown officially up for grabs. For the remaining eight contenders, this is a monumental opportunity. The path to victory suddenly looks very different, perhaps less daunting, without the reigning champion blocking the way. They smell blood in the water, and the intensity heading into the weekend knockout matches just ramped up significantly.
For Nelly Korda, it’s undoubtedly a frustrating and unexpected end to her week in Vegas. A chance to go back-to-back has vanished. But champions are forged in adversity as much as victory. While this stings, expect her to analyze, regroup, and come back with renewed fire.
But the story right now? Down goes Korda! The defending champion is out, Vegas has delivered a massive upset, and the T-Mobile Match Play just proved, in spectacular fashion, that absolutely nothing is guaranteed in this game. The weekend awaits, now filled with even more intrigue and possibility.
