How the world No.1 golfer is navigating superstardom and the pressure of the LPGA Tour
Priest of the House
Lytham St Annes: Nelly Korda is instantly recognizable from a distance over the windswept sand dunes at England’s Royal Lytham site.
As fans flocked ahead of the Women’s British Open, the last major of the year, the world No.1 was the most sought after.
It didn’t take long to spot the American’s tall, athletic frame; especially because his attire has the Nike X factor compared to the rest of the field: baggy, camouflage pants and a cropped, luxurious sweater.
Additionally, the 28-year-old has the balance and power of his golf swing; equally natural talent she shares with a family of tennis and golf stars, and more than two decades of hard work working her way through Florida’s ultra-competitive junior golf scene and onto the LPGA Tour.
Korda isn’t just women’s golf’s biggest draw; She is among the biggest female sports stars in the world. It is worth mentioning along with basketball player Caitlin Clark, gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Coco Gauff.
But Korda is a reluctant star; He’s someone who admits he’s unprepared in 2024 as his profile soars.
There were several big winners that year with her second trophy, winning a record-equaling seven LPGA Tour titles in a row, returning to the Olympic stage in Paris as a gold medalist from the previous games in Tokyo, and becoming the first golfer since Tiger Woods to attend the Met Gala in New York.
He appeared on stage a year later Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Problem.
“I had to learn that,” Korda said of dealing with his growing fame at Royal Lytham. “It’s not something that comes with it. A lot of things happened at once in 2024 and I had to get through last year to even embrace it.”
The 19-time LPGA Tour winner can be shy with the media at times and seems to draw a line between public and private versions of herself. However, in 2026, Korda’s fame and results began to rise.
She won the first two majors of the year, including an epic clash with England star Charley Hull at the US Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
She is seeking her first Women’s British Open title after finishing second to Lydia Ko with Yin Ruoning and Lilia Vu at St Andrews in 2024. Everything was a learning process.
“I think if you had asked me two years ago, maybe I would have lied here and said it was okay. [all]Korda said candidly: “But I think I’m at a stage in my career where I’m just going to be myself. If people don’t like it, that’s okay. If it inspires the next generation, that’s great; that’s what I would want.”
“I had to learn that I could go in any direction I wanted and be very original. When I’m not, I feel very drained.”
At least Korda has an athlete family he can trust. His father, Petr Korda, was world No. 2 in tennis and the Czech star won the 1998 Australian Open. Her mother, Regina Rajchrtová, played tennis and competed in the 1988 Olympics. Sister Jess Korda, who chose golf, won six LPGA Tour titles, including the Women’s Australian Open, while brother Sebastian Korda pursued tennis and earned four ATP wins.
“My parents, I think they make sure my batteries are always recharged,” Korda said.
New Zealand star Ko, formerly No. 1 in the world and an LPGA Hall of Famer, has been impressed by Korda’s last three seasons.
“He’s had an incredible year, and to go through that twice in three years is just incredible,” Ko said on Wednesday. “He proved himself to everyone [that] She is one of the best players and one of the best female athletes in the United States.
Korda’s sustained success has not only benefited himself. Interest in women’s golf has never been higher. KPMG, title sponsor of the Women’s PGA Championship, has increased its prize purse to a record US$13 million ($18.7 million), while this week’s presenting partner AIG has also increased its Women’s British Open prize money to US$10 million.
Men’s golf’s biggest tournament, the Masters, increased its prize pool to $10 million just 11 years ago.
Hull said at Royal Lytham: “Listen, the things Nelly has done for the game of golf are incredible and lovely to watch. She’s also a lovely girl.”
Hull is considered the biggest female star behind Korda for her aggressive, exciting golf style and dry, British sense of humour.
Fans want Hull, who has three LPGA victories, to challenge Korda more regularly and
Let this competition take women’s golf to new heights.
Hull, 30, finished second at the last US Women’s Open, taking it to Korda.
“I don’t see this as a rivalry right now because – with all due respect – Nelly’s [four] major and I don’t have any. I have five second-place finishes,” Hull said plainly.
“So let me get my major first and then that’s something we can think about in the future. I just want to get over the line and win my first major. Five runner-up finishes at majors pains me.”
“I remember looking at the faces walking in on the first day last year and saying, ‘Oh, I wish that were me.'”
At Royal Lytham, this could turn into an official contest if local favorites Hull win, or even better, fend off Korda. Maybe then both will be on equal footing. But for now, Korda is the golfer every fan wants to see.
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