Korda Closes In on Leader Coughlin at Aramco Championship

Lauren Coughlin maintains her lead at the Aramco Championship, but Nelly Korda significantly narrowed the gap to just two strokes on Saturday, as the challenging Shadow Creek course proved that scoring pars is a notable achievement. Korda finished strong with birdies on her last two holes, carding a 69 to move to five under par and claim second place. Meanwhile, Coughlin shot one over par with a 73, and her seven-under tournament score is one of the few below par on the leaderboard. Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Miyu Yamashita are tied at three under par, while Leona Maguire is one under. "Shadow Creek has definitely shown its tough side over the past couple of days," Korda noted. "It's been extremely challenging, especially on the back nine." Hyo Joo Kim's chances of extending her LPGA Tour winning streak to three have diminished after a difficult start with two bogeys and a double bogey in the first three holes. She fell from a tie for second to a tie for 17th at four over par after a 79. The Aramco Championship, co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour, boasts a $4 million purse this week, attracting the world's top 20 players. This season is shaping up to be reminiscent of Korda's exceptional 2024 season, where she won seven times and was named player of the year. Korda has already secured a victory and two second-place finishes in the first three tournaments of 2026, a significant improvement from last year when she failed to win a single tournament. "I'm just playing very solid golf," said world No. 2 Korda. "I've always worked extremely hard, but I'm proud of the effort I've put in over the past few weeks during my break. I feel refreshed and happy, and I'm excited to compete." "Last year was unusual, with things just not going my way by a fraction. That takes a toll, which is why I prefer taking longer breaks." Coughlin last won in 2024, with victories in Canada and Scotland. She also had a strong performance at Shadow Creek last year in a match play event, making it to the final pairing before losing to Madelene Sagstrom. Her impressive performance this week demonstrates Coughlin's ability to navigate the course more effectively than most of her competitors. "There are a few holes where you can make birdies, like the par fives and holes 11 and 12," Coughlin said. "So, I'm trying to capitalize on those opportunities and just hang on tight on the other holes." The final round of the Aramco Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf, starting at 11pm on Sunday. Viewers can watch with a Sky Sports subscription or stream without a contract.