Nelly Korda Changes Out Of LeBron James Shoes During US Women's Open

Nelly Korda changed his Nike golf shoes during the first round of the US Women's Open — (Image credit: Getty Images)

After starting out in her customized LeBron James golf shoes, Nelly Korda had to make a change of footwear after just six holes of her first round at the US Women's Open.

Korda was gifted the Nike shoes by NBA legend James just before the second women's Major of the year at Riviera County Club - but they didn't last too long.

Starting on the back nine, Korda wore them for just six holes before changing into her regular Nike golf shoes on the 16th tee box.

The reasoning? Apparently the new LeBrons, a pair of Nike Victory Pro 4 golf shoes featuring Nelly insoles, were just a touch too big for her.

"I felt like I had a little too much room," Korda said after a disappointing opening round of 73 at Riviera. "It's honestly kind of, I've run into this issue. I had that with the Jordans, too.

"Sometimes when I wear a different color, they just are made a little different, just the spacing is a little different. It's the exact same shoe. I just wanted to wear these."

Korda told her trainer on the 14th hole that she needed to change shoes, and by the time she made the switch she'd played her first six holes of the day in one over.

🗣️Nelly Korda explains why she switched back to her normal Nikes on the 6th hole after wearing custom LeBrons to start the round @uswomensopen."I just felt more comfortable (in my own shoe)." https://t.co/HQgBb8TfIr pic.twitter.com/RYtzqnTaWHJune 4, 2026

She then played the rest of her round in her usual shoes in one over, so when asked if the change in footwear had any effect on her game, she laughed: "No, apparently not.

"I just felt more comfortable in these."

Korda came into the US Women's Open as favourite after winning the opening Major of the season at the Chevron Championship.

But she ended round one a full seven shots behind early leader Jennifer Kupcho, who shot 66, with Korda admitting her game just wasn't quite right.

"It wasn't a great day," said Korda. "I hit it really good Monday through Wednesday, so I have honestly no idea where this came from.

"I've just been feeling really stuck in my swing and not being able to release it. I was sending it out right in Cincinnati too. I put in a lot of hours on the range, and I can't seem to really figure it out."

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Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.