“First Time I Beat My…”: Nelly Korda Once Explained Why Her LPGA Rookie Year Felt Different
27th July 2025 Dundonald Links, Irvine, Scotland ISPS HANDA Womens Scottish Open Golf Final Round Nelly Korda catches a golf ball at the driving range before her final round PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK AlecxBrown
27th July 2025 Dundonald Links, Irvine, Scotland ISPS HANDA Womens Scottish Open Golf Final Round Nelly Korda catches a golf ball at the driving range before her final round PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK AlecxBrown
Two-time major winner Nelly Korda appeared on the Just Women’s Sports podcast in 2021 and explained why her LPGA rookie season was different from your average first year.
Korda revealed that, unlike most rookies, she had been around tour events and experienced the culture before turning pro herself, thanks to her sister Jessica Korda.
“I was 18-19, and honestly, I was super lucky because Jess was on tour already starting in 2011. I would go out to a couple of events, and I knew all the girls, and I kind of knew what was going on already,” Korda told host Kelley O'Hara.
However, that didn't mean she had an easy time winning tournaments from the get-go. “My first year on tour was definitely some learning curves. I had some highs, some lows, but that’s everyone’s first year," said Nelly Korda.
November 15, 2025, Belleair, Florida, USA: Nelly Korda tees off on the 11th hole during round three of the Annika LPGA, Golf Damen tournament on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 in Belleair. Belleair USA - ZUMAs70_ 20251115_zan_s70_011 Copyright: xLuisxSantanax Belleair USA - ZUMA0840 20251115_zan_s70_011 Copyright: xIMAGO/LuisxSantanax
November 15, 2025, Belleair, Florida, USA: Nelly Korda tees off on the 11th hole during round three of the Annika LPGA, Golf Damen tournament on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 in Belleair. Belleair USA - ZUMAs70_ 20251115_zan_s70_011 Copyright: xLuisxSantanax Belleair USA - ZUMA0840 20251115_zan_s70_011 Copyright: xIMAGO/LuisxSantanax
"We started out the year in the Bahamas. I finished fifth. That was the first time I beat my sister," she added. Meanwhile, Jessica Korda continued to advise her younger sister.
Over the course of the 2017 season, Nelly made 19 cuts in 23 starts and recorded a top-five finish in her first appearance on the LPGA Tour. Then again, Korda's success isn't surprising.
Nelly Korda and her sister aren't the only elite athletes in the family
Nelly Korda comes from the “Korda Grand Slam” family, where all five immediate members are athletes who have either won professional titles or competed in the Olympics.
Her father, Petr Korda, won the men's singles title at the 1998 Australian Open. Later, his son Sebastian Korda claimed the boys’ singles title in 2018.
In golf, Jessica Korda won the Women’s Australian Open in 2012, and Nelly Korda followed with the same title in 2019.
Nelly has 16 LPGA victories, two major titles, and an Olympic gold medal from Tokyo, along with more than 100 weeks as world No. 1. Petr reached a career-high No. 2 in tennis and won 10 ATP singles titles.
Jessica has six LPGA wins and plans to return in 2026 after time away from competition. Sebastian reached a career-high No. 15 in 2024 and has won two ATP singles titles.
More recently, Nelly won the 2026 Tournament of Champions on February 1, marking her 16th LPGA title.
Written by
Aditi Singh
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi