Nelly Korda Misses the Cut at Evian Championship in Shocking Major Exit

Did someone hire an Etsy witch to hex the top-ranked golfers in the world?! For the first time in a long time, the game's most reliable weekend guarantees are anything but. Scottie Scheffler's surprise exit was one thing, but Nelly Korda's early departure from the Evian Championship feels heavier, especially given the circumstances of a major championship and everything that was on the line for her this week.

The World No. 1 arrived in France with major expectations (just your average shot at making history with closing out the Career Grand Slam and earning the final two points for a Hall of Fame bid) but a challenging opening 36 holes results in an early exit for the 27-year-old who will celebrate her birthday later this month.

Korda looked out of sorts with her flat stick on Thursday, taking 34 total putts to cap off a three-over round of 74. Friday looked slightly better with 30 putts, but she left two crucial chances, a long par on the 17th and a birdie try on the 18th, short—either would have freed her up to be inside the cut line.

For a moment with a handful of players left on the course, the number had moved to +1 but with two closing par 5s on each of the nines, even par or better was the key.

It's a disappointing and unexpected turn of event for the best player on the LPGA this season. With one more major to go, how she recovers is what matters most.

It just wasn't in the cards for the defending champion who just didn't have her best stuff this week. Her rounds of 73-72 resulted in missing the cut by three shots.

This was perhaps the only thing more shocking than Korda. Absolutely no one saw Minjee Lee shooting 77-78 in a major.

The Dutch star who is coming off a career-best finish at Hazeltine needs a win at either the Women's Scottish Open or the AIG Women's Open to secure a spot on the European Solheim Cup team which will be played in her home country.

This wasn't the kind of result the Frenchwoman and 2023 Evian champion had in mind for this week.

Lopez has been on a heater at the majors this year, highlighted by a runner up finish at the U.S. Women's Open, it's a shame to see her hot streak stall.

It's not often that we see the top-ranked junior golfer miss a cut, even at the highest level. But I'm sure that it's already water under the bridge for the rising star, who has a knack for bouncing back.

With the pressure to secure her final LEAP point, Romero didn't look her usual calm, cool and collected self this week. But worry not, she'll have another chance at earning her LPGA eligibility at AIG at the end of the month.