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The Round-up: Jason Kokrak, JB Hansen, Nelly Korda, Pia Babnik and Phil Mickelson claims wins

Nelly Korda at the Dow Lakes Invitational 2021

All the best stories from a week of golfing action across the world.

As weekend turnaround go, Jason Kokrak's in the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open takes some topping.
Following the delayed start to the first round, the second lap was incomplete on Friday evening and Kokrak was among those who returned early Saturday morning to mop things up.
He'd carded a 2-under-par 68 in the first round and had enjoyed himself on Friday afternoon, playing 11 holes in 6-under to get right into contention.
Did he wake up like a bear with a sore head? Or did the sore head come after he signed for a 71?
Because he played those final seven holes of the second circuit in 7-over and appeared to have blown his chances on a difficult course.
But he was not to be denied. He added a 4-under 66 later in the day and a 5-under 65 on Sunday left him two clear of Kevin Tway and Scottie Scheffler.
But for that Saturday morning aberration he might have ended the week miles clear of the field on a course few ever felt in control on.
It was one of the finest performances of the year, no doubt.
He late revealed that he had considered withdrawing ahead of the tournament, so bad had he been hitting the ball.
"And then Saturday morning I don't know what happened," he said. "Did I sleep too much or whatever? Something happened and I just did not play my best golf.
"I had a really, really poor nine holes, but stuck through it, made some nice putts coming down the stretch and then started hitting more greens, which made this golf course a lot easier."
His win was more evidence that golf in Texas suits specialists: his last four strokeplay starts in the state read seventh, third, winner, winner.
For Scottie Scheffler it was another near miss. His quest for that first PGA Tour win goes on.

More Danish glory

In the AVIV Dubai Championship Joachim B Hansen became the fourth different Dane to win on the 2021 European Tour season (and another Dane, Marcus Helligkilde, ended the Challenge Tour season ranked first).
The success of his compatriots had fuelled Hansen, in particular being in Mallorca to witness Jeff Winther win with his family in attendance.
When Hansen won last year's South African Open he had no family present and this week he was keen to show them what he could do - there was an emotional scene on the final green when he completed the victory.

Korda outlasts rivals

Nelly Korda ensured that the fight for LPGA supremacy in 2021 will go down to the wire with victory in the Pelican Women's Championship.

But she had to dig deep before lifting the trophy.
Victory had appeared hers before a disastrous triple bogey at the 71st hole. She courageously followed up with birdie at the last and then prevailed in a high-class four-way play-off against Lydia Ko, Sei Young Kim and Lexi Thompson.
Korda joins Jin Young Ko as a four-time winner on the LPGA this year and the pair head to the season-ending Tour Championship this week with the number one spot and notions of Player of the Year all to play for.

Babnik adds to reputation

On the Ladies European Tour, the young Czech Pia Babnik earned her second win of the season in the Aramco Series.

The victory for the 17-year-old vaulted her to second in the Race to Costa del Sol rankings and drew praise from big golf fan Niall Horan.

Mickelson mops up

Meanwhile, on the roundbelly tour, Phil Mickelson, who you get the impression would rather not be valid to compete there, continues to reap when he shows up.

The numbers are simple. It's perhaps just as well for the rest of the circuit that he limits his starts on the Champions Tour.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy’s quest for more Major Championship glory: Can more coaching changes turn the tide?

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