The enigma that is Nelly Korda, the current world No.1 in women’s golf, continues to captivate the sporting world with her calculated approach to the game. Unlike those who cling tenaciously to every competition, Korda is adept at conserving her energy, observing her opponents, and attacking with a potent force when the time is right.
Last year, Korda made a bold statement that has since defined her career trajectory, “If my body is not feeling 100 percent, then I’m not going to push it.” True to her words, she opted out of the 2024 LPGA Tour’s Asian Swing. Yet, when she made her return at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, the Wilshire Country Club witnessed her remarkable triumph in a playoff.
Her brief hiatus seemed to have rejuvenated her, as Korda then bagged three consecutive LPGA Tour events, underlining her prowess on the green. However, when she missed the Asian swing for the second time, it wasn’t a strategic decision. An unfortunate neck injury forced the 15-time LPGA winner to sit out six events, beginning with the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, which included all four Asian tournaments.
Yet, true to her resilient spirit, Korda bounced back with a vengeance, clinching the ANNIKA in Florida and recording seven LPGA victories for the season. All this while participating in only 17 events last year. Clearly, her strategy of pacing herself was paying rich dividends, and she seemed to be savoring it.
As we step into the 2025 season, Korda has once again taken a one and a half month break, after her commendable performances at the Tournament of Champions and the Founders Cup. Prior to this, she had showcased her skills at the Grant Thornton Invitational and the PNC Championship, the latter alongside her father, Petr Korda.
World No.1 Korda outlined her plan for the upcoming season, stating, “I kind of have the first part of year until Chevron kind of set. After that it’ll be just how my body is feeling.” Her schedule is set until April 27, indicating that this break was well thought out. Fans can expect her back by the end of the Asian Leg at the Ford Championship in Arizona on March 31. The Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, planned a week prior to the Ford event, was cancelled due to LPGA payment disputes. Korda, the defending champion at the Ford Championship, is undeniably heading back to a course she knows well.
Reflecting on the previous year, Korda’s four-event winning streak post the Asian swing was nothing short of spectacular. She started her run by winning the LPGA Drive On Championship in Florida, before clinically defeating Hira Naved at the Ford Championship in Arizona. Her winning spree continued at the TMobile Match Play, where she overpowered Leona Maguire, and culminated in her second major victory at the Chevron Championship in Texas, where she triumphed over Swedish golfer Maja Stark by two strokes.
However, Rose Zhang stopped Korda in her tracks at the 2024 Founders Cup, outscoring her by 17 strokes. As we anticipate Korda’s return, the looming question is whether a well-rested Korda can replicate her winning streak and reaffirm her supremacy on the field. Only time will tell if her last year’s performance was an exception or the norm.
