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With the golfing world at her feet, could Nelly Korda be the one to lead women’s golf into a new era? Brendan Barratt
Thanks to a remarkable run of five consecutive LPGA Tour victories in 2024, Nelly Korda has 13 LPGA Tour wins, including two Majors, an Olympic gold medal and a comfortable lead atop the Rolex Women’s Golf World Ranking. And despite Scottie Scheffler’s best efforts, Korda is the hottest golfer on the planet right now.
From an LPGA Tour standpoint, the timing of the 25-year-old’s charge couldn’t be better, as it continues propelling women’s golf into the limelight. Men’s golf, divided by the rift between the PGA and LIV Golf Tours, yet seemingly united by greed, is losing popularity among casual viewers.
While men’s golf engages in a free-for-all money grab, the television landscape is hinting at change, with a spike in viewership across women’s sport. Globally, women’s soccer is booming, while in the US women’s basketball has become tremendously popular. TV channels are investing more money into their production of live women’s sport and – surprise, surprise – are reaping the rewards. Women’s golf, with Nelly Korda at the helm, is perfectly poised to capture some market share.
TROPHY CABINET
Breakdown of Korda’s wins.
TROPHY CABINET
Breakdown of Korda’s wins.
2024
April: Chevron Championship (Major); T-Mobile Match Play
March: Ford Championship; Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship
January: LPGA Drive On Championship
2023
July: Aramco Team Series – London
2022
November: Pelican Women’s Championship
August: Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande
2021
November: Pelican Women’s Championship
August: Olympic Games gold medal
June: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (Major); Meijer LPGA Classic
February: Gainbridge LPGA
2019
November: Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA
September: Lacoste Ladies Open de France
February: ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
2018
October: Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship
2016
September: Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge
Gallery below
The American is on arguably the greatest run in women’s golf history, having claimed five straight LPGA Tour titles this year, including the Chevron Championship – her second Major victory. The streak has seen her draw level with Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam as the only women players to have won in five consecutive starts on the LPGA Tour. She has every chance to create history by making it six – possibly more.
Her record-equalling winning streak has certainly resonated with Scheffler, who was asked after his RBC Heritage win if he felt a sense of competition between himself and Korda.
“One of the people here asked me, ‘Is this turning into a competition between you and Nelly?’ and I was like, I don't know, man, I think if it's a competition, she's got me pretty beat right now,” he said. “Five wins in a row… it's pretty special stuff. To win four times in a row and then show up at a Major championship and win is extremely impressive. So I'm very happy for her.”
Hailing from an elite sporting family, Korda turned professional in 2016 and plied her trade on the Symetra Tour. After graduating to the LPGA Tour in 2017, she experienced a breakout year in 2021, winning four LPGA Tour events, including her first Major, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She capped the year with the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Unfortunately, in March 2022, Korda was diagnosed with a blood clot in her left arm and underwent surgery, missing a fair chunk of the season. In May the following year she announced that she would miss several tournaments because of lower back pain. She made a triumphant return that July, winning the Aramco Team Series at the Centurion Club, her 13th tournament victory and her third on the Ladies European Tour.
“Yeah, in 2021 I went on a run, and then in 2022 and 2023 golf really humbled me,” she said. “I think in sports, there are ups and downs. Every athlete goes through the rollercoaster, and that is what makes the sport so great. You mature and grow so much and learn more about yourself. You never take these weeks for granted.”
Korda has looked to the men’s game for inspiration, impressed by Scheffler's run over the past three seasons.
“I don't think anyone can ever say anything bad about Scottie,” she said. “I love his morals and his attitude out there. I just love the way he goes about his business. He inspires so many around him, including myself.
“As he even said, he wants to win every tournament he tees it up at. That's every girl who’s out here competing, too. I think you just have to go about your business. You can get lost in the articles and the expectations, but I think if you stick to your true self, you can live in your bubble and enjoy it a lot more.”
A FAMILY AFFAIR
The Kordas know how to light up the world sporting stage.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
The Kordas know how to light up the world sporting stage.
Nelly Korda comes from a ridiculously talented family. Her older sister, Jessica, is a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, while her younger brother, Sebastian, is ranked as the 23rd-best tennis player in the world.
Korda’s parents, who hail from the Czech Republic, were both professional tennis players. Her father Petr won the Australian Open in 1998 and was once ranked No 2 in the world, while in 1991 her mother Regina Rajchrtová reached a career-high ranking of No 26 in the world.
You just have to go about your business... if you stick to your true self, you can live in your bubble and enjoy it a lot more
HIGH PRAISE
Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Billy Horschel and JT Poston talk about Korda’s incredible accomplishments.
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Korda’s coach, Jamie Mulligan, explains how her “bubble” has helped transform her into a ruthless winner.
“There isn’t really a difference,” he said of the 2021 Nelly Korda and the 2023 version. “More simplicity in her own bubble is all. But it’s the same thing. Cleaner, more efficient.”
“Imagine a ship,” he continued. “She’s been throwing stuff off the ship. Anything she didn’t need. And right now the ship is cruising along pretty good.”
The question then, is whether the good ship Korda can pull the LPGA Tour along in her wake. Much like her recent successful strategy to golf, her answer is refreshingly simple.
“I feel like we just need a stage," she said. "We need to be put on TV. If we have a stage, we can show up and perform and show people what we're all about.”
The opening is there for women’s golf – they just need to take it.
Gallery below
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