Currently, women's golf is dominated by a single player's exceptional performance. Nelly Korda's impressive form has raised questions about her peers' ability to compete against her.
Following a dismal performance at the Kroger Queen City Championship, where she tied for eighth place, Nelly Korda took a two-week break from competition to recharge. Prior to this setback, Korda had accumulated an impressive record in her first six starts of 2026, securing three titles and finishing as runner-up three times.
Related ↗Red Bull's F1 engine performance leaves ADUO stunned.Nelly Korda's breakthrough victory occurred at the prestigious Chevron Championship, marking the beginning of the major season. With renewed fervor, she prepares to tackle her second major event this year as the current world number one.
Korda's focus is on reaching the top spot and she's willing to put in extra effort during downtime. Her competitive nature drives her to perform well under pressure, especially during crucial moments like a tournament's final stretch. For her, there's no greater thrill than being in contention for victory. Even if she doesn't succeed, she remains determined to relive that experience, knowing the hard work invested during off weeks is what makes it all worthwhile.
Read next ↗Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering triumphs in the women's Giro d'Italia, completing a rare feat.Early rising is part of Nelly Korda's demanding schedule, which spans six consecutive days, packed with practice sessions, workouts, physiotherapy appointments, and an evening wind-down over dinner.
Sacrificing personal time for golf is a common trade-off, and Nelly Korda believes it's a small price to pay for the thrill of competing at the highest level each week.
Korda's exceptional combination of dedication and innate ability makes her a formidable opponent to beat. Following seven triumphs in 2024, including her inaugural Chevron Championship win, she struggled to find success in 2025, finishing the year without a victory. As the 2026 season unfolds, Korda is mirroring her impressive start from 2024, reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking along the way, displacing Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand.
At Erin Hills in Wisconsin last year, Nelly Korda maintained a strong challenge throughout Sunday, narrowly missing out on top honors at the U.S. Women's Open, where Maja Stark of Sweden ultimately took the lead. This impressive performance marked her highest finish yet at the prestigious championship.
Korda's most significant lesson learned from the near-miss was a deep-seated hunger for success.
Korda reflected on last year's inconsistent performance, attributing it to a combination of factors: not playing her best golf and encountering unfortunate breaks that cost her crucial inches. This challenging period, however, proved to be a valuable learning experience.
Winning this week would secure Korda a remarkable fourth major championship in her illustrious career, with odds heavily favoring her success at +340 on DraftKings and +400 on BetMGM.
At only 27 years young, Nelly Korda has already etched her name as America's top female golfer this decade, yet she shied away from being labeled the iconic figurehead of women's golf.
"I'm not the poster child for golf, but its popularity is undeniable." Korda observed that since her rookie year, especially in 2023, there's been a significant surge in young girls attending tournaments and cheering on female players.
The enthusiasm of our events is palpable, with dads and young girls attending in droves. Each year, attendance has increased significantly. It's not uncommon for caddie Jason McDede and me to pause, survey the crowd on a Thursday and be struck by its size. Growth is evident, but there's always room for refinement in our endeavors. A notable shift has occurred, with more fans than ever before turning out to support us.
