BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) — Charley Hull, coming off her first victory in over two years, carried her strong form from Saudi Arabia to Florida with a 6-under 64 on Thursday, sharing the lead with Jiwon Jeon after the opening round of The Annika.
Nelly Korda, the world’s No. 1 player, showed little sign of rust after nearly two months away from competition. She closed strong with four birdies in her last five holes to finish with a 66.
Hull, who claimed her first LPGA win in Texas in 2022, triumphed again two weeks ago at the Aramco Team Series-Riyadh, a 54-hole event on the Ladies European Tour. Reflecting on her return to the winner’s circle, she said, “I feel like I’ve been playing very, very well all year. Sometimes you forget how to win, so this has reminded me.”
Jeon’s round featured a standout hole-in-one on the par-3 third hole at Pelican Golf Club, where she used a hybrid from 182 yards. Unlike some of her previous aces, Jeon was able to watch the ball land in the hole. “I saw the one bounce and then go in, which was very cool,” she said.
In addition to the hole-in-one, Jeon registered six birdies and two bogeys. Ranked No. 98 in the Race to CME Globe, Jeon’s focus is on securing a spot in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples next week, with the top 60 advancing. While making it to the finale is a major goal, securing her LPGA card for next year is her primary concern.
Korda, who hasn’t played since September due to a neck injury, started slow but finished strong, ending her round with a chip-in birdie on the 18th. Despite the long break, Korda was pleased with her performance. “I was a little nervous on the first couple holes, not knowing what to expect. But I’m happy with how I played,” she said.
Gemma Dryburgh and Mi Hyang Lee both shot 65, putting them one shot behind the leaders. Lee, who started the week at No. 59, made significant progress toward securing her spot in next week’s tournament.
