The 2025 schedule in golf has been unpredictable. Away from the fans and betting predictions, the top golfers have struggled with their performance. On the PGA Tour, the World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, who won 7 titles in 2024, hasn’t won any in 2025. Similarly, on the LPGA Tour, Nelly Korda achieved the same with 7 victories in 2024 and faced a similar downside trend with her performance in 2025.
Having the notably dominant form in 2025, fans expected her to continue the same feat. With her runner-up finish at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the hope for a similar season was high. However, the performance later raised concerns. The significant drop in performance, including T7 at the Founders Cup, T22 at the Ford Championship, and T16 at the JM Eagle LA Championship, is a worry. Even in the first round of the Chevron Championship, she recorded a +5, 77 score, which was far below expectations.
After which, the LPGA star was placed at T118 and was on the verge of missing the cut. However, in the second round, she showed signs of a comeback with her under-4 score, helping her with a 71-place jump. The worry of missing the weekend passed as, after two rounds, she is placed T46. Analyzing her current form and obstacles, Golf Channel analysts Amanda Blumenherst and Mel Reid shared suggestions for the golfer.
Upon discussing her performance, Blumenherst suggested, “Golf is very much a mind game as well as a player, and sometimes you just need something, whether it’s a new piece of equipment like kind of beginner’s luck with a new putter.” Korda in the first round had 33 putts, but as pointed out by the former professional, the change of putter has worked for her. Korda changed from a blade to a mallet putter in the second round, and her score has significantly improved.
Joining the discussion, Reid also shared how she used to keep a mallet putter for her practice, despite not having impressive stats with it. She even said that the same might be the strategy of Nelly Korda, as pointed out by Blumenherst. She said, “So maybe that’s what she’s doing. I mean, she obviously feels great with it, she wouldn’t put it in the bag if she didn’t win with it before. You know she’s played great with it before, so she obviously has some confidence with it.”
The 7-time LPGA Tour title winner in 2024 used both the mallet and the blade putter. But historically, her six wins from the last season came using the blade putter. But in the second half of 2024, she switched to a mallet putter, which she used until the Ford Championship. Now, with the change, her team has shared the reason behind the decision.
Nelly Korda putter switch at the Chevron Championship
“I just have to work,” was the frustration-filled statement of the golfer after her round. She even went on to practice till dark to improve her putting flaws. After the first round, where she carded three consecutive bogeys from holes 3 to 6, she seemed stressed with her performance. Even said on the 18th hole that, “I’m going to go and practice and see where it takes me.”
As per the team having caddie Jason McDede and swing coach Jamie Mulligan, she practiced with a mallet-style putter similar to what she used (TaylorMade Spider X) in 2024. A member of the team also confirmed she was trying something “different.” The attempt to try something different has cost her the season’s highest score round.
As before this, the only subpar round was 73 at the Ford Championship. However, now that she has made the cut and gotten back to her original putter. Will she be able to cover the lead with a +1 score currently? What are your thoughts on it? Share with us in the comments below.
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