Nelly Korda’s new swing thought helps soar her into contention at LPGA Finale

World No. 1 Nelly Korda gave herself a new swing thought going into Friday’s second round. It worked.

Sometimes, one little swing thought can change everything—even for the best player in the world.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda bumbled to an even-par 72 on Thursday at the CME Group Tour Championship, a round well below her standard. She needed a spark to get back into contention on Friday, so she implemented a new swing thought before the second round.

It worked.

“Just one simple thought, honestly,” Korda said.

“Just a little bit more hinge on the backswing, and then trying to shorten up my swing a little bit. I always work on that, though.”

Korda blistered Tiburon Golf Club with a sizzling 6-under 66, a round that featured four birdies and a hole-out eagle on the par-4 3rd.

“I was in the rough on the right and had a really good angle in, actually, and it rolled in like a putt. Landed soft — I hit a controlled 8-iron, landed soft, and rolled in,” Korda said of her two.

“I actually burned the edge on my first and second hole, so it was nice to see that one go in.”

Her swing thought worked early and often, but more importantly, it helped her record her seventh bogey-free round of the season. She also said she thought of this whenever she stood over the ball.

“I get kind of slung open, and then when I swing my face open, I just don’t hinge properly,” Korda added.

“So going straight back, which in a sense is like a closing club face on the way back, and then just hinging puts me in a good spot on the top.”

Korda is currently tied for fifth with Jeeno Thitikul, Runoing Yin, Amy Yang, and Ayaka Furue. As of this writing, she trails Angel Yin and Hye-Jin Choi by two strokes.

Should Korda go on to win, it would mark her eighth win of her already historic season.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.