CME Group Tour Championship notebook: Petr, Regina Korda follow daughter Nelly on Sunday
The football Mannings and, in golf, Lexi Thompson’s clan may be the most well-known and popular sports families in America.
But another family walking the fairways Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship might be their equal.
The Kordas were out in force out Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort with father Petr, mother Regina and 17-year-old son Sebastian watching daughters Jessica and Nelly, 20, play the final round.
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Jessica and Nelly Korda are both among the top-ranked golfers in the Rolex Women’s Golf World rankings, Nelly finally joining Jessica as an LPGA winner with an October victory in Taiwan.
The Korda family collected their third Australian Open title last January when Sebastian Korda clinched the junior tennis crown and reached No. 1 in the junior world rankings.
Sebastian’s victory came on the 20th anniversary of his father Petr’s Grand Slam title. Older sister Jessica won her first LPGA title at the 2012 Australian Women’s Open. Mom Regina was also a pro tennis player.
“They always reiterated to us that we have to have a balanced life so I would shut it down in the summer and for an entire winter, never touching a club,” Jessica said.
“I was always hungry to compete but my parents always made sure I was a kid first,” Nelly said. “My parents always told me to be humble and we live by that today.”
The Korda parents did not attend the Rolex LPGA Awards dinner Thursday night at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Jessica was honored with the Heather Farr Perseverance Award, presented by Nelly, and then younger sister received a Rolex watch as first-time winner.
“I saw all the pictures from the night but I have done many awards in the past,” Petr said. “This is about my kids now, so they need to shine.
“I was very happy that I could be dressed in jeans sitting in a pub enjoying my life. We’re on the move a lot but I have managed to get to three tournaments this year. My wife did a bit more because I was with Sebby and tennis, but hope next year to balance it out more.”
When the Korda daughters are playing in Asia, Petr switches to Asian time so he can be there if needed for a phone call.
“I want to be available if my daughters want to make contact with me, I stay up until the last shot, usually watching a live stream on the Golf Channel,” he said.
Mo Martin heading to Northern Lights: Naples resident Mo Martin will get away from golf for five weeks starting today and once you know where she will be going you’ll understand way.
“Going with family and friends to see the Northern Lights in Alaska late this month so for at least the next five weeks I’m done hitting a golf club,” Martin said.
Martin plays out of The Club Pelican Bay, while most of her family lives in the Los Angeles area.
Martin finished the tournament even par with a final-round 72, going 2 under on the front nine.
“I played solid and one putted the last two holes but the double on No. 12 hurt,” she said. “I putted the ball off the green."
Two months until next event: The LPGA Tour starts the 2019 schedule Jan. 17-20 with the inaugural Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions at the Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club. Winners from the last two LPGA seasons will play for $1.2 million while the celebrities play for $500,000.
The recent opening event in the Bahamas in January has been dropped with sponsor Pure Silk moving to the Kingsmill Championship in May. New events in Boca Raton, Las Vegas and Asia will also be added when the schedule is announced later this month.
Nelly Korda collects: Since Nelly Korda joined the Tour in 2017, the Korda sisters have a running wager – the sister who finishes higher on the money list is awarded a handbag of her choice by the other sister. Nelly entered the week trailing her older sister by $7,933 but the second-place finish, six spots ahead of Jessica, clinched the win.
“I get a bag. Last year Jess already had hers lined up and she had a good year,” Nelly said.
“I already have something picked out and I’m buying different and better,” Jessica said.
Chip shots: The Wounded Warrior Project and Bright Pink, a women's cancer charity, both received checks for $175,000. ... Two paratroopers brought in the $1 million to the 18th green. ... CME Group Chair and CEO Terry Duffy reiterated that even though St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will become the main charity beginning next year that both Wounded Warrior Project and Bright Pink will still be supported by the tournament. ... Maria Torres made an albatross/double eagle on No. 17 -- her eighth hole. From 194 yards, she hit a hybrid. Torres is the first LPGA Tour player from Puerto Rico.