Former world #1 shoots 67 with new flatstick while Mother Nature crashes the FM Championship party

Nelly Korda arrived at TPC Boston with more than just high hopes—she packed a brand new TaylorMade blade putter that looked suspiciously like an old friend. The flatstick resembles the Scotty Cameron model that helped her dominate 2024, but this time it’s sporting a SuperStroke grip and a different badge. “Just something else than I’ve been feeling,” Korda explained after her opening-round 67. “Just something new.” The putter carousel isn’t exactly breaking news for Korda—she famously won her seventh tournament last season with a completely different putter than the six victories before it.

The Florida Course Rant That Made Headlines

While discussing her equipment change, Korda couldn’t help but take a shot at her home practice facilities. “The golf courses right now in Florida aren’t the best,” she said with trademark honesty. “The golf courses that I’m at just opened after being closed for a month. There was a lot of sand on them.” It’s the kind of unfiltered comment that reminds us why Korda remains golf’s most relatable superstar—even world-class golfers have to deal with subpar practice conditions sometimes.

Seven Birdies and a Two-Shot Deficit

The putter switch paid immediate dividends as Korda carded seven birdies against two bogeys for a five-under 67. She sits just two shots behind leaders Sei Young Kim, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, and Allisen Corpuz heading into Friday’s second round. Starting on the back nine Thursday morning, Korda weathered an opening bogey before finding her rhythm with five birdies in an eight-hole stretch around the turn. The round tied her season-low first-round score and reminded everyone why she’s still considered one of the game’s elite players.

Weather Halts the Hunt for Win #1

Just as Korda was building momentum, Mother Nature decided to crash the party. Second-round play was suspended at 10:35 a.m. Friday due to dangerous weather conditions, with wind speeds jumping from a projected 15 km/h to 24 km/h. AccuWeather had predicted a 96% chance of precipitation and 58% chance of thunderstorms, making the suspension inevitable. The timing couldn’t be worse for Korda, who was eager to build on her solid opening round in pursuit of her first victory of 2025.

The Elephant in the Room: Life After #1

The unspoken storyline following Korda all week is her recent fall from World No. 1 after 71 consecutive weeks atop the rankings. Jeeno Thitikul claimed the top spot following Korda’s T36 finish at the AIG Women’s Open, ending a run that began in March 2024. The margin was razor-thin—just 0.1861 ranking points separated them heading into that final major. For a player who won seven times last season, going winless through 14 events in 2025 represents the kind of drought that would test anyone’s patience.

The Path Back to Glory

With the FM Championship offering a $4.1 million purse and Korda sitting in prime position despite the weather delay, this could be the week everything clicks back into place. Her new putter is already showing promise, her ball-striking remains elite (third in Strokes Gained: Total), and the competition knows she’s due for a breakthrough. The LPGA has seen 23 different winners in 2025 with no repeat victors—a streak that would love to see Korda’s name added to the list.