Nelly Korda withdraws from event in England after being bitten by dog

Nelly Korda has withdrawn from an upcoming Ladies European Tour golf tournament in England after being bitten by a dog in Seattle.

The world’s No. 1 golfer announced on Friday that she will not be able to compete in next week’s Aramco Team Series tournament at the Centurion Club, near Hemel Hempstead on the outskirts of London, where she was due to defend her title.

“I am sorry to announce that I will have to withdraw from next week’s Ladies European Tour tournament in London,” Korda said in a statement on Instagram. “On Saturday in Seattle I was bitten by a dog and will need time to receive treatment and make a full recovery.”

“I apologize to the LET, the sponsors and my fans for my absence,” she added. “Thank you for your understanding and I look forward to being back on the track soon.”

Korda, who did not say where on her body she was bitten, missed her third consecutive cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Sammamish, Washington, last weekend. The 25-year-old’s recent difficult spell comes after a very successful start to the year.

The Florida native won five straight tournaments between January and April – the first LPGA athlete to do so in nearly two decades – before adding her sixth title of the 2024 season at the Mizuho Americas Open in May.

Korda’s next scheduled tournament is the fourth major tournament of the season, the Amundi Evian Championship in France from July 11-14. The reigning Olympic gold medalist will also represent the United States in Paris from August 7-10.

Next week’s event is the third of five this year in the Aramco Team Series, which is sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).