Altomare hangs on to tie holder Korda at LPGA Match Play

Nelly Korda's LPGA Match Play title defense got off to a sluggish start on Wednesday as Brittany Altomare rallied from 2-down to tie the world number one on the opening day at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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"To end up in a tie was a win for me," said Altomare, who is working her way back after taking time off to have a baby last year.

"Nelly is a great player. Obviously world number one and a great person. It was a lot of fun out there." On a day when cold, gusting winds ramped up the level of difficulty, Korda opened with three bogeys as Altomare took an early l-up lead.

Korda's first birdie of the day at the par-three fifth put her l-up and she was 2-up with four to play before a bogey at 15 cut her lead to one.

Altomare nabbed her first birdie of the day at the par-five 16th to level the match.