Nelly Korda’s T-Mobile Match Play title defense came to an end on Friday as she lost to Ariya Jutanugarn 1-up, failing to qualify for the round of 16. The world’s top-ranked player needed a win to advance, but Jutanugarn’s 40-foot putt on the 15th hole changed the match’s momentum. Korda had taken the lead earlier on the 13th hole after getting up-and-down, only to see Jutanugarn bogey. However, she couldn’t capitalize on her chances, missing short putts on the 16th and subsequent holes ¹.
Other Notable Eliminations
– Charley Hull, the English golfer, also bowed out after losing her final round-robin match against Esther Henseleit 5&4.
– Rose Zhang, battling a neck injury, advanced to the knockout stage but conceded her match to Meghan Khang due to her injury concerns ² ¹.
Advancing Players
The following players have secured their spots in the knockout stage ¹:
– *Jeeno Thitikul*: Defeated Hye-Jin Choi 5&3, winning all three round-robin matches. She’ll face Nataliya Guseva.
– *Brooke Henderson*: Won her first two matches and advanced after her opponent, Jin Young Ko, conceded due to illness. She’ll face Maja Stark.
– *Sei Young Kim*: Never trailed in her matches and will face Lauren Coughlin.
Upcoming Matches
The round of 16 matches are set to begin on Saturday, with the quarterfinals scheduled for the afternoon. The semifinals and championship will take place on Sunday, featuring the top four players remaining in the tournament ¹.
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