January 21-24
Four Season Golf & Sports Club, Orlando, Florida
$1,200,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Jessica Korda and Danielle Kang shattered the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions scoring record with a four-day total of 24-under 260, besting the previous mark of 14-under 270 set by Eun Hee Ji in 2019 but victory was decided when Korda drained a 25-foot birdie on the first sudden-death playoff hole.

“I didn't have great numbers all day. I was in between shots all day. It was just frustrating because I wanted to be aggressive, but then I wasn't,” said Korda, who closed with a 66 on Sunday after firing a 60 in the third round. “And then kind of just said, You know what? Forget about it. Just stick to your process and be aggressive when you can and take those opportunities.

But having those putts roll in definitely helped.”

Korda started her round two strokes behind leader Kang but tied with her after a birdie at the par-3 16th, both then birdied the 17th and missed birdie putts on the final hole.

Both hit the centre of the 18th green on the extra hole but while Korda made a long birdie putt, Kang's veered left giving Korda her sixth LPGA title and her fourth in her season-opening event.

“Everyone says low expectations, but I always expect, I don't show up to a tournament just to show up,” said Korda. “I'm too old for that. This is my 11th year. I know I've won a lot first week out.”

Kang, whose preparation for the season-opener was interupted by two brushes with Covid, focused on the positives.

“I'm not disappointed in that I didn't win. It's not about winning and losing for me. It's about being able to execute when I want to and having a feeling when I feel like I can't do something is something I don't like,” said Kang.

“But I already knew coming in that I wasn't really prepared, and so I played great. I had a lot of fun. I got quite a bit of friends playing in it and they came out and watched and I love that, so I take a lot of positives from this week as well. But it's something to build on and work on and get back at it.”

Younger sister Nelly Korda shot Sunday's low round of 7-under 64 and finished third at 22-under. Defending champion Gaby Lopez tied for 11th at 11-under.

In the celebrity competition, former tennis player Mardy Fish earned an 11-stroke victory at 158-over.

“Super happy with the way I played. I don't know what I won by, but it was tough to sort of follow along. It was nice,” said Fish. “Just sort of kept going along today and playing our balls instead of theirs and worrying about where they are and stuff. Just trying to get it in as quick as possible and see where we were on the back nine.”