Olympics-Golf-Korda defends title as women's golf stars relish crowds

By Gus Trompiz

PARIS (Reuters) - American world number one Nelly Korda will defend her Olympic women's golf title in Paris this week as the sport's top players brace for the buoyant Games atmosphere that marked the men's tournament.

With teammates Lilia Vu, the world number two, and Rose Zhang, another top 10 player, Korda will be seeking to complete a second consecutive U.S. gold medal sweep in golf.

Scottie Scheffler, the men's world number one, claimed gold at Le Golf National outside Paris in a tight finish on Sunday, succeeding teammate Xander Schauffele who, like Korda, won gold in Tokyo.

The women's Olympic competition starts on Wednesday and will follow the same format as the men's, with 60 participants teeing off for a 72-hole, stroke-play contest over four days.

"The men had amazing fans out here. I was wowed by how many people are out here watching and just happy that I'm back," Korda told reporters on Monday.

The week started well for Korda's illustrious sporting family, with tennis-player brother Sebastian winning the Washington Open on Sunday - the same ATP Tour tournament their Czech father Petr clinched 32 years ago.

Nelly Korda will also add to the family's Olympic heritage after playing alongside sister Jessica in the U.S. golf squad in Tokyo, nearly 30 years after their mother Regina Kordova, also a Czech tennis player, participated in the Seoul Games.

After a sensational start to 2024, with six tour titles including the first major of the year, the Chevron Championship, Korda's form has dipped, making the Games look more open.

South Korea will be targeting a second women's Olympic golf gold after Park In-bee in Rio. Their squad is the only one apart from the United States to boast three qualifiers, including world number three Amy Yang, who bagged her first major at the Women's PGA Championship in June.

Yuka Saso, who won the U.S. Open for a second time this year, will line up for Japan in Paris, having represented the Philippines in Tokyo.

One difference versus the men's contest, an extra stroke for par on the tricky 18th hole, could favour more daring shots on the home stretch, Australia's Minjee Lee said.

"To have an exciting finish in a positive way I think is a nice way to finish for a medal," said Lee, whose brother Min Woo represented Australia in the men's golf in Paris.

As in Tokyo, France will be represented by Celine Boutier and Perrine Delacour, who will be hoping to go one better than Victor Perez who thrilled French fans with a final round flourish on Sunday to take fourth place in the men's competition.

New Zealand's Lydia Ko will try to add a gold medal to the bronze she claimed in Tokyo and the silver she won in Rio in 2016, when golf returned to the Olympic stage after a century-long absence.

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Bill Berkrot)