Nelly Korda Facts: 25 Things You Didn't Know About The LPGA Tour Golfer
Get to know the women's World No.1 a little better with these facts about her life and career
Nelly Korda is not just one of the biggest names in women's golf, she is quickly becoming one of the game's major stars. The American has registered multiple victories on the LPGA Tour, including two Major championships at the 2021 KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the 2024 Chevron Championship, while she also won the Gold Medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
But, how well do you actually know Korda? Below are 25 things you might not have been aware of...
Nelly Korda facts:
1. Nelly Korda was born on July 28, 1998 in Bradenton, Florida.
2. Korda is from a renowned sporting family. Her father, Petr, won the 1998 Australian Open (tennis) and her mother, Regina, is also an ex-professional tennis player. Both represented Czechoslovakia.
3. The American has two siblings. Her sister, Jessica, is also a multiple-time LPGA Tour winner and her brother, Sebastian, is a professional tennis player who is currently ranked in the top 50 in the world.
4. Korda started playing golf seriously when she was six years old. She would frequently have lessons three to four times a week.
5. While growing up, Korda would often spend her summers in the Czech Republic with her family.
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6. The American's hobbies include tennis and ice hockey. Her favorite team is the LA Kings.
7. Korda enjoyed an extremely successful amateur career and was part of the winning 2015 Junior Solheim Cup team.
8. In 2013, a week before her 15th birthday, Korda made the cut at the Women's US Open.
9. Korda is currently dating Canadian ice hockey player, Andreas Athanasiou, and has been since late 2019.
10. After turning professional in 2016, Korda won her first event at the Sioux Falls Challenge. That season she finished ninth on the money list and earned her LPGA Tour card for 2017.
11. Both of the Korda sisters are Whoop ambassadors and have been since 2018.
12. In 2021, she won her first Major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. She beat Lizette Salas by three and equalled the championship record score of 19-under-par.
13. Later in 2021 she won the gold medal at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, beating silver medallist Mone Inami and bronze medallist Lydia Ko by one stroke.
14. She has a host of sponsors, including Nike, TaylorMade, Goldman Sachs, Whoop and TUMI.
15. Tiger Woods was her hero growing up and in 2021, at the PNC Championship, she had to pluck up the courage to ask for a photo with the 15-time Major champion.
16. Korda has around 1m followers on Instagram - the app on her phone that she says she uses the most.
17. She's a big fan of country music.
18. Her favorite television programme is Criminal Minds.
19. Tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are among her all-time favorite sports stars.
20. If she wasn't a professional golfer, she thinks she may have trained to be a lawyer.
21. She reached World No.1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings in 2021 and has returned to the top spot at least once in every year since.
22. In 2024, Korda made history by becoming the third woman in LPGA Tour history to claim five consecutive victories - the fifth of which was her second Major at the Chevron Championship.
23. She has earnings of around $12m on the LPGA Tour.
24. She became the first LPGA golfer and first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2013 to attend the MET Gala in 2024.
25. She has made three Solheim Cup appearances for Team USA but has yet to be on the winning side.
HOW FAR DOES NELLY KORDA DRIVE THE BALL?
According to the LPGA Tour, Korda's average driving distance in 2024 stands at 264.74 yards (ranked 33). That's almost 15 yards less than the leading player, although, as the ranking will tell you, well above the Tour average.
Name | Nelly Korda |
Born | Bradenton, Florida |
Date of birth | July 28, 1998 |
Height | 5ft 10in (1.78m) |
Turned professional | 2016 |
Former tour | Symetra Tour |
Current tour | LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour |
Professional wins | 18 |
Major wins | 2 (plus 1 Olympic gold) |
Career earnings | $11,361,489 |
Event | Tour | Winning score |
2016 Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge | Symetra Tour | -14 (3 strokes) |
2018 Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship | LPGA Tour | -13 (2 strokes) |
2019 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open | LPGA Tour | -17 (2 strokes) |
2019 Lacoste Ladies Open de France | Ladies European Tour | 15 (8 strokes) |
2019 Tawain Swinging Skirts LPGA (2) | LPGA Tour | -18 (playoff) |
2021 Gainbridge LPGA | LPGA Tour | -16 (3 strokes) |
2021 Meijer LPGA Classic | LPGA Tour | -25 (2 strokes) |
2021 Women's PGA Championship | Major | -19 (3 strokes) |
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (2021) | Olympics | -17 (1 stroke) |
2021 Pelican Women's Championship | LPGA Tour | -17 (playoff) |
2022 Aramco Team Series - Sotogrande | Ladies European Tour | -13 (3 strokes) |
2022 Pelican Women's Championship | LPGA Tour | -14 (1 stroke) |
2023 Aramco Team Series - London | Ladies European Tour | -11 (4 strokes) |
2024 LPGA Drive On Championship | LPGA Tour | -11 (playoff) |
2024 Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship | LPGA Tour | -9 (playoff) |
2024 Ford Championship | LPGA Tour | -20 (2 strokes) |
2024 T-Mobile Match Play | LPGA Tour | 4&3 (Leona Maguire) |
2024 Chevron Championship | Major | -13 (2 strokes) |
2024 Mizuho Americas Open | LPGA Tour | -14 (1 stroke) |
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
- Jonny LeighfieldStaff Writer
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