Nelly Korda: 21 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 smiling](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sk59D5neia7JueffBomdNR-415-80.jpg)
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 21 things you might not have been aware of...
Nelly with her mum (left), sister (middle-right) and dad (right) after winning the 2021 LPGA Gainbridge
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.
Korda during the US Women's Open in 2013
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.
Korda (middle) beat Mone Inami (left) and Lydia Ko (right) to win the Gold Medal at the 2021 Olympics
12. In 2021, she won her first Major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and took home the Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
13. She has a host of sponsors, including Nike, TaylorMade, Goldman Sachs and Whoop.
14. 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.
15. Korda has over 780,000 followers on Instagram - the app on her phone that she says she uses the most.
16. She's a big fan of country music.
Korda with the 2024 T-Mobile Match Play trophy
17. Her favorite television programme is Criminal Minds.
18. Tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are among her all-time favorite sports stars.
19. If she wasn't a professional golfer, she thinks she may have trained to be a lawyer.
20. She reached World No.1 in 2021 and returned there at least once in every year since.
21. 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.
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 |
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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