Nelly Korda battles her way through a challenging field at the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup, just trailing leader Hyo Joo Kim in the final round. At Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club, it will be tough for the world number two to clinch the win, but nothing is impossible.
Nelly Korda, the woman who has already given us so many goosebump moments this season, is once again among the top contenders at the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup. She is currently in a tie for 5th place in the final round, 9-under par after 17 holes played. The gap to the leader, Hyo Joo Kim, who is at 17-under, is substantial, but as everyone knows, anything can happen in golf on the final holes.
The Battleground in Menlo Park
The tournament, running from March 19th to 22nd, 2026, in Menlo Park, California, is proving to be quite demanding. For the first time, the tournament is being held at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club, a course that truly packs a punch with its tree-lined fairways, challenging greens, and thick rough. This course demands precision off the tee and a true feel for the ball.
But Nelly is the current world number two for a reason. She kicked off the 2026 season with a victory at the weather-shortened Tournament of Champions and leads the LPGA in scoring average (67.67) and greens in regulation (83.33%) – truly impressive! In Round 2, she shot a 68, with five birdies and just one bogey, which propelled her to 6-under and a tie for 3rd place after 36 holes. She knows herself that the trees and tricky greens here are challenging and was annoyed by a few missed short putts.
Kim Pulls Ahead, Korda Fights
While the golf world watches intently as Nelly gives her all, Hyo Joo Kim got off to a real flying start at the top. After a stellar round of 63 and a solid 70, she has taken the lead and currently stands at 17-under after 16 holes. At 1:41 AM CET on Sunday, March 22nd, two players at 11-under have already finished their rounds. Kim is truly on fire and barely giving the competition room to breathe.
For Korda, this means she still needs to work some magic on the remaining holes to catch Hyo Joo Kim or at least improve on her tied 5th place at 9-under (after 17 holes). With two holes left to play, we know that in golf, fortunes can change faster than a gust of wind can pull a ball offline. A victory seems unlikely, but that's golf, folks! Let's keep our fingers crossed that she starts a final run.
