NAPLES, Fla. – After a sparkling 64 in the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship, Nelly Korda made a special request. She’d like her old friend Sophia Popov back on the mic covering her group on the weekend. Popov, the former British Open champ, walked 18 holes with Korda on Friday for ESPN+ featured groups coverage.
“I’ve known Soph for so long,” said Korda. “I survived pretty much Epson Tour – I wanted to say the reverse, Symetra – Epson Tour because of her. She was really good friends with my sister and she kind of took me under her wing. For a 17-, 18-year-old, it’s really intimidating going from junior golf to pro golf and not knowing absolutely anyone because no one was in my age group.
Advertisement
“So just have known her for so long, I’m very appreciative to have her out here and as a friend.”
Nelly Korda of the United States plays a shot from the third tee during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship 2025 at Tiburon Golf Club on November 21, 2025 in Naples, Florida.
Korda, winless so far in 2025 after taking seven LPGA titles in 2024, recorded nine birdies and currently holds the clubhouse lead at 9 under. She hit every fairway, missed two greens and needed only 26 putts on the day at Tiburon Golf Club.
After burning the edge of the hole time after time in Round 1, Korda went to the practice putting green Thursday afternoon. She stayed only five minutes, simply needing to see some balls roll in the hole.
Advertisement
“I honestly have been putting, like, very well,” said Korda. “They’ve just like – my line and my speed just haven’t matched completely, so I would obviously burn edges or they’re just not falling. But strike-wise I’m very happy the way it’s coming off my face and the way the ball is rolling, so just need to see more putts fall.”
Korda’s scoring average coming into this week was only 0.02 percent higher than last year (69.56 vs. 69.58). Her strokes gained putting ranking is better this year (25th vs. 34th) and she’s only one place different in strokes gained tee to green (down from third to fourth). She was third in greens in regulation last year and this year ranks 14th.
“It’s honestly a fine line,” said Korda. “It comes down to sometimes one shot. It’s like one putt lips out and you don’t get your momentum. It’s just such a fine line when it comes to golf.
Advertisement
“I’m not disappointed with the season. Obviously like I would’ve loved to raise a couple of trophies. When it comes down to my stats and the way my body has felt, it’s been amazing compared to, I don’t know, since 2021 I think I’ve been out for a couple months every single year with injuries.
“So I always like to take the positives out of the year. I still have one more week. You never know what’s going to happen. But with golf, it’s literally all about centimeters and it can go such a different way.”
Sophia Popov of Germany looks on during the first round of the CME Group Tour Championship 2024 at Tiburon Golf Club on November 21, 2024 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Popov, who went out on the back nine to follow Minjee Lee’s group in the afternoon, has known 27-year-old Korda for 15 years, after becoming friends with her older sister, Jessica. Popov said she knew young Nelly was something special when she was grouped with her at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open at Cordevalle.
Advertisement
“Even back then I feel like she knew where she was going,” said Popov, “and she kind of doesn’t let anything influence that.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nelly Korda surges with second-round 64 at CME Group Tour Championship
