Nelly Korda has won three of her first six events in 2026. But ask her what's clicking right now, and she won't point to her swing or her stats.

The World No. 1 spoke on Wednesday at Maketewah Country Club ahead of the Kroger Queen City Championship at the Chevron Championship and an event in Mexico. Korda addressed how she's approaching this stretch of the season differently and why her mindset is driving her form.

When asked what's the strongest part of her game right now, "My patience, for sure," Korda said.

"Mentally being on the golf course, just really enjoying it, knowing that I am going to make mistakes and that it's OK. It's not going to ruin my round. That it's OK to bounce back."

That's a shift. And Korda knows it. "In the past I've been very scared to make mistakes, and that's locked me up a little bit," she said. 

"So just kind of trying to stay free on the golf course, knowing my swing is not going to be perfect every week. For me, as long as I stay mentally fresh, that's the most important."

Korda's 2025 season was a rough one; she finished without a single win. Going into 2026, that record could have added pressure on her. But instead of struggling, she played some of her best golf. She won three tournaments, finished second three times, and returned to No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.

It also looks similar to her 2024 season, when she won six times in seven events. She started very strongly, but later things became harder. She then missed the cut in three straight events, including two major tournaments.

How Nelly Korda manages the grind

Korda took a break last week after playing in two straight tournaments, but she said the time off still felt very short.

"You need to give your body a break because you played two weeks in a row with all the travel, too," she said. "You're getting ready for a big summer ahead, so it's like you can't rest too much or the body doesn't feel 100%."

Sleep and recovery treatment are the two things Korda never skips. She tries to get eight to ten hours of sleep every night. She also travels all year with her physio, Kim, both for tournaments and at home.

Korda said she trained less last week. She did only two or three workout sessions instead of her normal routine. She also said she purposely avoids golf-specific exercises in the gym.

Korda said eating healthy has been part of her life since she was a child. It was something her family always followed, and she still makes it a priority while playing on tour.

This week in Cincinnati will also be physically challenging. Korda said the walk at Maketewah Country Club was "brutal." She also said hitting the fairway will be very important because the rough is thick and difficult.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason