NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Nelly Korda, the world's top-ranked player, won't be around this weekend to defend her T-Mobile Match Play championship.
She needed to defeat Ariya Jutanugarn, but lost 1-up Friday on the final day of round-robin play and failed to qualify for the round of 16.
Korda's struggles typified the week for the world's top 10 players. Eight played in this tournament at Shadow Creek, but only second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul advanced to the knockout stage. She will play Nataliya Guseva.
"I don't think it's because of the top players not playing well, but I think because it's not a matter of the ranking here," Thitikul said.