Fellow American Stacy Lewis and South Korea’s Ha Na Jang were tied for second.
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“I think just struggling and being at your lowest and then feeling this and just going through these emotions, just incredible gratitude and just being so humbled by everything”, Korda said.
Korda has only one top-10 finish this season, a tie for second in January in Florida in the season-opening event. The three-time LPGA Tour victor is 50th in the world rankings and 56th on the money list, barely enough to get a spot in the tournament. “I need to play a few solid golf”.
“The other girls are making a lot of birdies and playing really good golf, so for me to win… The moment you try to make a birdie you’re short-sided in the bunker”.
“I haven’t been there in a while, ” Lewis said. “All the support that I’ve had, the people that have stuck with me this year, didn’t stop believing in me even when I did a little bit”. It’s nice to be back.
Jessica Korda of the United States watches her putt on the ninth green during the third round of the … “That’s just a testament of the awesome person”, Korda said of Ko.
Victory would provide world No. 2 Ko with her first career hat-trick, coming off victory at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Vancouver in August and The Evian Championship in France.
The 22-year-old daughter of former Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda carded a bogey-free round to sit two clear of compatriot and world number three Stacy Lewis, who also struck a blemish-free 65. Ko is on nine-under, level with two Chinese rivals, Shanshan Feng and Xi Yu Lin.
Top-ranked Inbee Park, the 2012 victor, was 8 under after a 71.
Overnight leader Jang Ha-na of South Korea was in a tie for the lead with Korda but a costly double bogey five on the 14th, following a few putting trouble, halted her momentum as she settled for a level par 71 to sit at 10-under.
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The poor form led to her telling U.S. Solheim Cup skipper Juli Inskter that she wasn’t worthy of a captain’s pick for last month’s matches against Europe which the Americans won without her.
