Nelly Korda wins after LPGA controversially reduces TOC to 54 holes

Nelly Korda is back in the winner’s circle, albeit not in the way she or the LPGA envisioned to start the 2026 season.

Korda, the world No. 2 who went winless in 2025, won the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions after the LPGA shortened the season-opening event at Lake Nona to 54 holes. Despite initially planning a delayed start to the final round, the LPGA ultimately decided to shorten the TOC due to a lack of an “optimal competitive environment for a professional event.” The Orlando area was hit with subzero temperatures all week and play was suspended on Saturday due to high winds.

The LPGA made the call to shorten the event around noon ET on Sunday, saying the eight players who did not complete all three rounds would resume play to complete their third round and the tournament would then be called.

“Play will continue as Lake Nona becomes playable in competitive conditions at the highest temperature, but conditions will deteriorate later today and tomorrow, making it difficult to complete 72 holes,” the LPGA said in a statement.

The LPGA’s decision to shorten the tournament to 54 holes, instead of playing on Sunday or postponing to a Monday or Tuesday finish, leaves many questions.

While the pros’ tournament was reduced to 54 holes, the celebrities playing in the pro-am portion played nine holes on Sunday. The decision left Lake Nona resident and LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam, who played as a celebrity in the tournament, perplexed.

“I don’t know why they’re not playing,” Sorenstam told Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols on Sunday. “There are pitch marks. I mean, I hit some sharp shots today and the ball even stopped. I’m surprised. It’s hard, it’s cold, but it’s as fair as anything. I told JR we can keep going.”

According to Nichols, an LPGA official said the celebrities were allowed to compete Sunday because they were playing in “an exhibition,” even though there was funding for the amateur portion of the competition.

When Golf Channel’s Amy Rogers pressed an LPGA official for details on how the cold weather “affected the golf ball and the course,” the official was unable to provide details.

Temperatures in Orlando were expected to be 24 and 26 degrees on Sunday and Monday, respectively. But the weather forecast stopped predicting high winds, halting play on Saturday, and a high of 53 degrees is expected on Monday.

The LPGA doesn’t play again until February 19 in Thailand. Korda isn’t expected to play again until mid-March, meaning it will be more than a month before fans see her hit a shot again. Given the time between the first two tournaments of the season, the LPGA’s decision to reduce the Tournament of Champions to 54 holes seems premature at best. A finish on Monday or Tuesday (a maximum of 63 is expected) would probably have been welcomed by the players. The LPGA could also have avoided this on the pass by moving up the start times on Friday and Saturday and bringing pros together instead of amateurs.

Instead, the LPGA season opened with a shortened TOC.

“I’m sorry we can’t play tomorrow,” Lydia Ko told Nichols.

Danielle Kang posted on Instagram on Sunday fans’ thoughts on the decision to shorten the tournament.

After months of positive momentum under new commissioner Craig Kessler, the LPGA season got off to an awkward start at best at Lake Nona.

Nelly Korda won, but did so while on the driving range because the league shortened the tournament while the best player ever was on the course, calling it “playable.” With 18 days between tournaments and their closest tie for the lead, the LPGA would have been smart to find a way to clinch the final round.

Korda’s Saturday 64 was an impressive round. According to Golf Channel’s Grant Boone, Korda beat the field average by nine strokes. But she also set off over an hour earlier than the leaders, benefiting from better weather conditions. Everyone from the fans to the LPGA to Nelly Korda would have benefited from seeing the game’s biggest star take on tough but playable elements in an attempt to break her winless drought.

Instead, the LPGA season started with 54 holes, a Nelly Korda win, the term “optimal competitive environment” and a lot of questions.