Nelly’s hard day, Jiyai Shin’s case, who will win?

Our reporter from St. Andrews Sean Zak is at the AIG Women’s Open this week. Here she enters with fellow county member Jessica Marksbury on Nelly Korda’s difficult day, Jiyai Shin’s amazing round, and who thinks she will take home the trophy on Sunday.

***

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor of GOLF: Hello, Sean!

Sean Zak, senior GOLF writer: Hello J-Mar!

JM: How is your day. We have a lot to cover.

SZ: That’s what we do! Let’s get into it.

JM: Just when it looked like Nelly Korda was setting herself up for a coronation weekend with a four-shot lead in the middle of the Open, she is now two back, and Sunday’s final round looks like it will be a shootout. What happened to Nelly today?

SZ: It would be easy to say that a loose swing on 16 that faded five yards too much and ended up being the OB was the problem, but it was actually the putter. He three-putted the green, leading to bogey. He made a bad second play and the putter didn’t bail him out. He missed at least two more short ones, within 5 feet, during the round. It’s a new stick, so I’m sure he’s getting used to it, but it wasn’t good today. It made sense for him to head to the putting green after the round.

JM: I can definitely relate to a rough day in the green. But on the other end of the spectrum was Jiyai Shin, who shot a round of 67 to move to seven under par overall – how amazing was that?

SZ: How amazing, period! Forget that round – which was amazing, by the way. Consider the fact that she is one of the few players in the field to have played the entire AIG Women’s Open on the Old Course. He is 36 years old and after winning two It turns out more than ten years ago, he decided to return to Japan to be closer to his family. She largely stopped competing on the LPGA Tour and leaned on the Japan LPGA. But now he’s back in the Open and absolutely ballin. I look forward to writing his story tomorrow if he somehow manages to do it for players 15 years his junior.

JM: Let’s hope Mother Nature brings everyone home with sunshine tomorrow. After the bad weather to start the tournament, how was the vibe today?

SZ: Oh, the vibes were like that goooood. I was a bit worried about the size of the crowd earlier in the week, but finally the Scots and Brits and all sorts of spectators turned up today. I’m told it’s because Monday is a bank holiday, which gives me even more hope for a big Sunday crowd, too.

JM: National holidays the day after the final round of the big game? That’s something I can get behind for sure! Sean, you wrote about Alexa Pano for the site today – any other news that piques your interest?

SZ: If Alexa Pano can stay Sunday morning, that means good things for the… New England Patriots? If you want to read more about the unusual, click here. But on other matters, I was very sad to see Charley Hull’s cave on Saturday. He works with electricity. He brings people in without apologizing. I was hoping we’d see that person during the showdown on Sunday. Maybe we will, but it will take something special.

JM: It’s an interesting leaderboard, with Lilia Vu shot to six under, and Lydia Ko hiding at 4. Who will you follow tomorrow?

SZ: I follow Lydia Ko. You are the best speaker here. He has an infectious personality. He is kind and cheerful at this point in his career. And he keeps getting asked about his impending retirement. I don’t think that’s true yet, but it’s a compelling idea as he flirts with the lead.

JM: I have to ask: Since St. Andrews is a second home for you these days, so where’s your pre-final food and drink tonight?

SZ: I’m headed to Thailand for chips ‘n’ fish ‘n’. The most reliable food in town. Then go to Central Bar for a beer. The most underground pub in town.

JM: The jealousy meter is off the charts right now, SZ! Before I let you go enjoy that pint, I have to put it in perspective: who’s winning this thing?!

SZ: Lilia Vu defends her title with a magic putter in hand. Much like Cam Smith did in 2022. Everything within 10 feet falls. And a few bombs do, too.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of women’s varsity golfers, Jessica knows how to beat everyone on the golf course. He can pass them through the office, too, where he is primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s first Style Issue, which began in February 2018. His first interview series, “A Round With,” released in November 2015, and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.