Nelly’s robust day, Jiyai Shin’s cost, who will win?

Our St. Andrews correspondent Sean Zak is on the AIG Girls’s Open this week. Right here he checks in with stateside colleague Jessica Marksbury on Nelly Korda’s robust day, Jiyai Shin’s unbelievable spherical, and who he thinks will go residence with the trophy on Sunday.

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Jessica Marksbury, GOLF senior editor: Good night, Sean! 

Sean Zak, GOLF senior author: Whats up J-Mar! 

JM: What a day. We now have lots to cowl.

SZ: That we do! Let’s get into it.

JM: Simply when it regarded like Nelly Korda was setting herself up for a coronation weekend with a four-shot lead on the Open’s midway level, she’s now two behind, and Sunday’s ultimate spherical is wanting like it is going to be a shootout. What went improper for Nelly as we speak?

SZ: It could be simple to say that free swing on 16 that pale 5 yards an excessive amount of and ended up O.B. was the problem, however actually it was the putter. She three-putted the first inexperienced, resulting in bogey. She misplayed the 2nd and putter didn’t bail her out. She missed at the least two extra quick ones, inside 5 ft, throughout the spherical. It’s a brand new wand, so I’m certain she’s nonetheless getting used to it, but it surely wasn’t good as we speak. It made sense that she went straight to the placing inexperienced after the spherical.

JM: I can actually relate to a troublesome day on the greens. However on the alternative finish of the spectrum was Jiyai Shin, who fired a spherical of 67 to succeed in seven beneath par total — how spectacular was that?

SZ: How spectacular is she, interval! Neglect that spherical — which was wonderful, by the way in which. Take into consideration the truth that she’s one of many few gamers within the discipline who has performed each AIG Girls’s Open on the Outdated Course. She’s 36 and after profitable two Opens greater than a decade in the past, she determined to maneuver again to Japan to be nearer to her household. She principally stopped competing on the LPGA Tour and leaned all the way in which in on the Japan LPGA. However now she’s again on the Open and completely ballin’. I vastly sit up for writing her story tomorrow if she will by some means get it finished in opposition to gamers 15 years her junior.

JM: Let’s hope Mom Nature brings everybody residence with some sunshine tomorrow. After brutal climate to begin the match, how was the vibe onsite as we speak?

SZ: Oh, vibes have been goooood. I used to be a bit of anxious in regards to the crowd sizes early within the week, however lastly the Scots and Brits and all kinds of spectators confirmed up as we speak. I’m advised that’s as a result of Monday is a financial institution vacation, which provides me much more hope for a large crowd Sunday, too. 

JM: Nationwide holidays the day after the ultimate spherical of a significant? That’s one thing I can get behind for certain! Sean, you wrote about Alexa Pano for the positioning as we speak — some other storylines pique your curiosity?

SZ: If Alexa Pano can by some means linger up high Sunday, meaning good issues for the … New England Patriots? In the event you wanna study extra about that oddity, click on right here. However as for different storylines, I used to be fairly unhappy to see Charley Hull cave Saturday. She is so electrical. She brings folks in by being so unapologetically herself. I used to be actually hopeful we might see that persona within the warmth of rivalry Sunday. Possibly we are going to, but it surely’s gonna take one thing particular. 

JM: It’s fairly an thrilling leaderboard, with Lilia Vu one shot again at six beneath, and Lydia Ko lurking at 4 beneath. Who’re you going to observe tomorrow?

SZ: I’m monitoring Lydia Ko. She’s one of the best talker out right here. She’s obtained an infectious persona. She’s sleek and joyous at this level in her profession. And she or he retains getting requested about imminent retirement. I don’t suppose that’s a actuality for the time being, but it surely’s a compelling concept as she flirts with the lead. 

JM: I’ve to ask: Since St. Andrews is mainly a second residence for you nowadays, the place are you venturing for a pre-final-round meal and beverage tonight?

SZ: I’m headed straight to Tailend for some grab-and-go fish ‘n’ chips. It’s essentially the most dependable meal on the town. Then to the Central Bar for a beer. Essentially the most underrated pub on the town.

JM: Jealousy meter is off the charts proper now, SZ! Earlier than I allow you to go to get pleasure from that pint, I gotta put you on the spot: who’s profitable this factor?!

SZ: Lilia Vu defends her title with a magic putter in hand. Very like Cam Smith did in 2022. All the things inside 10 ft falls. And a pair bombs do, too.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of feminine varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everybody on the masthead. She will be able to out-hustle them within the workplace, too, the place she’s primarily accountable for producing each print and on-line options, and overseeing main particular tasks, equivalent to GOLF’s inaugural Fashion Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview collection, “A Spherical With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in each within the journal and in video kind on GOLF.com.