Golf is hard. But you’d be forgiven for thinking the game is simple if you’ve been watching Nelly Korda this year. From January 28 to April 21, she was electric, fending off any challenge that was thrown her way to win five consecutive events, including a Major Championship, on the LPGA Tour.
The incredible run saw the American etch her name into the history books, joining Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) as the only players to win five consecutive LPGA events. An exclusive club that won’t be welcoming any new members anytime soon.
The 25-year-old fell short of holding the outright record after finishing in a share of seventh on her next start, but the two-time Major champion quickly got back to doing what she does best by winning the Mizuho Americas Open for her sixth victory in seven events. A remarkable feat that saw her become only the fourth player on Tour to win six times before June 1.
Two years ago, Korda couldn’t have dreamed of the incredible run she’s put together this season while at home recovering from a blood clot that required surgery. But now, fully healthy, there’s only one word to describe her – unstoppable.
Here, Korda gives us the lowdown on that remarkable win streak, how it can help promote the women’s game and what she thought of her Met Gala debut.
Worldwide Golf: What has this recent stretch of golf meant to you, and how much fun have you been having enjoying all the success?
Nelly Korda: Yeah, it’s been so much fun getting to travel all over the U.S., mainly being happy and healthy. I feel like that’s what has caused me the most joy, like going out and enjoying myself and being healthy compared to years before when I was struggling maybe with injuries. It’s been a wild, wild ride winning those five in a row. It’s been an amazing ride, and hopefully I can continue building on that throughout the entire season, because it’s still a long year ahead.
WWG: When you were going through that really tough time with your surgery and your arm, could you have imagined being in this position, winning five in a row, tying an LPGA record, everything that you’ve been able to do?
NK: Back then, no, because obviously then I was just more scared for my health. Competing was kind of on the backseat. I was not thinking about competing at all. But I think all of the sad times and the health scares that I have gone through have made me who I am today. I think it has matured me a lot, and I would say it’s shaped me into the person I am today, and I’m very grateful for the ups and downs.
WWG: When you came down the stretch at The Chevron Championship you talked about how nervous you felt and you hit some incredible shots on the last two holes. What did that tell you about yourself in that moment with so much on the line? Have you been able to reflect a little bit on what you were able to do?
NK: I would say that I’m so grateful for Jason (Jason McDede, Korda’s caddie). After I hit it into the water coming down the stretch he gave me a pep talk. He made sure that I stayed really in the moment, that I was taking it shot by shot. Having a teammate like him just makes me really, really grateful for him. And other than that, like I’ve been in situations where I’ve needed to play well coming down the stretch to keep a lead or maybe push to get into a tie for a lead.
I feel like every time I do learn more about myself and I can lean on what I’ve practiced on, and I can lean on the situations that I’ve been through to help me through that and to really take it a shot at a time.
Getting ahead of yourself is just going to lead you down a bad, bad rabbit hole. We made sure we were very, very present coming down the stretch. Even if I had a five-shot lead I was still going to be very nervous.
To be very present during that time really helped me to soak in the entire moment as well.
WWG: You’ve spoken before about to keep yourself locked in you want to keep the golf simple. What does that look like for you?
NK: Well, there is two sides to it. Obviously when I’m home I’m definitely practicing a lot more and trying to work on technique. When I’m out here, the way I keep it simple is by not overdoing it too much. Going out, seeing the golf course, doing my work with my caddie, picking a game plan, and then that’s it. I think in the past, I’ve got too caught up in coming out here and thinking I need to do a little extra when I’ve already done my work going into this event, and it’s time to just see my shots and execute them. That’s how I’ve tried to simplify it.
WWG: You have two parents who were both world class tennis players. With everything that you now go through off the golf course and all that is surrounding your success, just having their experience to rely on a little bit, does it help you dealing with all that?
NK: For sure. All three of us say that without their mentorship and guidance and knowledge we wouldn’t be where we are today. That is something that we really cherish, and we know is very, very valuable. So, my dad still actually does my schedule to this day. Like he’s very, very involved with the scheduling of my entire year and how much time I have off and what I’m doing off the golf course. They’re very much still involved. They were out here this week. I love having them out. All three of us are just grateful to have them in our corner.
WWG: Is part of that being able to put all that aside when you get on the golf course and just focus on what you’re doing?
NK: Yeah, I have such an amazing team. They kind of take care of everything and I’m very much focused on golf. That’s just the way I want it. I don’t love – not that I don’t love – but I just don’t really deal with much outside of the golf course because my true love is playing golf and competing; that’s my main focus.
WWG: You spoke about your injury, being in your own way mentally. What would you tell little girls to build their mental fortitude?
NK: Honestly, to never give up, to stay patient, to stay your course and not to compare yourself to others because everyone has a different path in their life. And to never let the adversities of life or anything take you down. Always rise.
WWG: After winning five in a row and a second Major, what can that run do to elevate the profile of your sport and get more eyeballs on it week to week, and the great play of you and your fellow players, too?
NK: My answer is going to be the same. It’s a stage. We need a stage. We need to be on primetime TV, and we need to showcase the talent we have out here, which is a lot. A bunch of people came out at the Chevron Championship. The crowds were amazing. That’s just what we need. We also need the support from not just the crowds but the television networks.
WWG: Was there an element of relief at all when the win streak ended at the Cognizant Founders Cup?
NK: No, not really. I didn’t really think about it too much. I was just so happy to be out there playing and taking the golf course on, because every week was just so different. It was a different challenge. I mean, we have not had the best weather this year either, so the last thing I was thinking about was the streak. Only thing I was thinking about was the golf course and the weather at hand, and that already fills your mind up with so much.
After the day is done you’re so mentally exhausted you can’t think about the streak. You’re just thinking about getting ready for the next day. It was an amazing streak that I was on. Honestly, it’s something that I never thought I would be able to do, so to be to do it makes me think I can hopefully do it again one day. But it’s not something that I’ll really think about too much. Winning once out here is really, really hard with all the talent that is out here.
WWG: Have to talk about the Met Gala. What was that experience like?
NK: Gosh, it was so, so crazy. You’re standing in line ready to get on the carpet and you’re seeing all these people you usually watch in TV shows or movies and they’re like famous singers and you’re starstruck the entire time. It’s the best people watching for me. I was just silent looking at everyone’s dresses. I saw Shakira and I just love Shakira. She’s so beautiful. Then Jaden Smith was really, really nice. He was the first person to say hello to me and introduce himself. Everyone was really amazing. I can’t just point out one person. The dresses were unbelievable and the whole evening was just a dream come true.
WWG: As you have success, is there a responsibility that goes with that as well? Biggest media market in the world. Being on the Met Gala red carpet does help the sport. Do you see it that way, that you can grow the game through this other stuff?
NK: Yeah, hopefully I’m doing it naturally. At the end of the day, I think if you perform well in your sport that’s what grabs people’s attention. I’m not the type of person that tries to push anything or does anything I’m not really comfortable with. So, I hope that I just do it naturally and that catches people’s attention.
