Nelly Korda returns to chase Hall of Fame berth, fourth title at Annika event

World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States returns to the LPGA Tour after a two-month absence, chasing two milestones at once: induction into the Hall of Fame and a fourth title at the same tournament.

Korda tees up Thursday at the Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, a $3.25 million event played over four days at Pelican Golf Club (par 70) in Belleair, Florida.

Korda has won four times this season, including two majors, but has not competed in an official event since the Solheim Cup — the United States-Europe team match — in September. She skipped all four tournaments held in Asia and makes her return after roughly two months away.

Korda clinched the Player of the Year award and has accumulated 26 points toward the 27 required for Hall of Fame induction. She has already met all mandatory criteria, including a major championship victory. A win this week would add the final point and qualify her for enshrinement.

A fourth career title at this event is also within reach. Korda won in consecutive years in 2021 and 2022, then claimed the title again in 2024. Another victory would make her the first player to win a single LPGA Tour event four times since Annika Sorenstam of Sweden did so in 2005.

Sorenstam, whose name the tournament bears, won the Mizuno Classic five consecutive years from 2001 through 2005 and also claimed five career titles at the Samsung World Championship.

The Korean contingent draws considerable attention, with world No. 3 Ryu Hae-ran leading a field that also includes Choi Hye-jin, Kim Sei-young and Yoon Yi-na.

Ryu won two majors this season but withdrew before the first round of last month's Maybank Championship with a finger injury and also sat out the Toto Japan Classic. Having finished tied for seventh at this event last year, Ryu will be closely watched as she tests her game in her return from injury.

Choi Hye-jin, who has finished runner-up three times this season without a win, seeks her first victory of the year. Kim Sei-young, the inaugural champion in 2020, is looking for a second career title at the event.

Hwang Yu-min continues her pursuit of Rookie of the Year honors. Hwang tied for sixth at the Toto Japan Classic, which ended Sunday, recording her second top-10 finish of the season. She sits second in the rookie standings with 503 points, trailing leader Hara Erika of Japan, who has 634 points, by 131 points.

The tournament also serves as the last chance to secure a spot in the season finale, the CME Group Tour Championship. The top 60 players — plus anyone tied at 60th — in the CME Globe points standings after the Annika event will earn entry into the finale.

Among Korean players, Joo Su-bin and Kang Min-ji are locked in a late push to qualify. After the Toto Japan Classic, Joo stands 62nd with 540.757 points and Kang is 65th with 523.428 points.

The cutoff sits at 60th place, held by Jodie Ewart Shadoff of England with 545.572 points. Joo trails her by 4.815 points and Kang by 22.144 points, meaning this week's results could reshuffle who earns a spot in the finale.

The 108-player field carries a winner's check of $487,500. The CME Group Tour Championship, the season finale beginning Nov. 19, offers a total purse of $11 million with a $4 million first prize.