Nelly Korda is honest about the high amount of emotional pressure that comes with being an elite athlete as she heads into the upcoming Chevron Championship in Texas.
During a press conference ahead of the championship, Korda opened up about "lashing out" sometimes.
"I think it's okay to lash out sometimes and not act the proper way. Then you find out, okay, I don't want to act like that. I should be proud of myself," Korda said.
The 27-year-old shared what athletes go through when dealing with the pressures of the moment and how things may not turn out in their favor in front of everyone.
"The thing that's different about athletes versus someone that's not is like sometimes we're under a microscope so you see everything. Coco Gauff, she was slamming her tennis racquet. She thought was in private, and you have video cameras there," she explained.
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 05: From left to right LPGA, Golf Damen golfer Nelly Korda reacts to missing a putt on the 9th hole during the final round of the Aramco Championship on April 5, 2026, at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire GOLF: APR 05 LPGA Aramco Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26040532
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 05: From left to right LPGA, Golf Damen golfer Nelly Korda reacts to missing a putt on the 9th hole during the final round of the Aramco Championship on April 5, 2026, at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire GOLF: APR 05 LPGA Aramco Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26040532
"At the end of the day I think sometimes we're under a microscope where you see all our actions, our emotions," she added.
The topic of dealing with the right attitude came up during a press conference where Korda was questioned about how she and other athletes react when finishing second, something she has experienced throughout her career.
Korda admitted she has not been able to maintain her cool throughout and pointed out that raw emotion is often an essential element in maturing into a top athlete.
The Pressure of Constant Contention
Korda begins her year's opening major in a unique kind of pressure because of her second-place finishes in previous tournaments before this week's competition at Memorial Park.
While she has made it to the final every Sunday this year, it is the sting of narrowly missing the winning mark that challenges the serene attitude she generally tries to carry.
"I've gone through it a couple times where I stormed off the golf course finishing second, and then there is times where I'm like, okay, I'm proud of myself," she confessed.
According to the American ace, such moments of frustration are part and parcel of growing as a player, and it allows her to reflect on herself as a competitor and how she wants to portray herself.
Nevertheless, even with all of this going on around her, she does not let outside pressures distract her from her goals.
"My expectation is to hit the first shot on Thursday and see how it goes," she concluded.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
Trending slideshow: Every LPGA Win by Nelly Korda: 15 and Counting
Aditi Singh
Every LPGA Win by Nelly Korda: 15 and CountingNelly Korda’s LPGA journey took off in 2018, when she claimed her first LPGA victory and quickly emerged as a rising star. Since then, she has accumulated 15 LPGA wins, including one major championship and numerous top-10 finishes. Known for her consistent play, as of 2024, she is among the tour’s most dominant and strategic players. So here’s a look back at the 15 wins so far. Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire/ImagoAt The Club at Carlton Woods, Nelly showed why she’s world No. 1. She held off a strong field in tricky Texas winds, sealing her second major title. Her calm putting stroke on Sunday was calculated, and fans still remember her steady birdie on the 13th that shifted momentum. It was a defining moment, proof that her comeback from injuries had brought her back stronger than ever. Lynn Pennington/ImagoThis was pure Nelly dominance. She fired a final-round 65 to outlast Hira Naveed. Her iron play was razor sharp, and she drained putts from all over the greens at Seville Golf and Country Club. Korda fans may still recall her smile on the 72nd hole. It was a moment where Nelly Korda knew the trophy was hers. AP Photo/Steve NesiusNamed after LPGA legend Se Ri Pak, this event was special. Nelly held off Australian rookie Gabriela Ruffels in a tense back-nine duel, and then Ryann O'Toole. She relied on clutch wedge shots, especially a beauty of an Eagle on the par-5 14th hole, which gave her the breathing room. Many called it “vintage Nelly” poise under pressure. Javier Rojas/Zuma Press/ImagoThis win kickstarted her epic 2024 run. At Bradenton Country Club, close to her Florida roots. While Korda struggled early, she eagled the 17th hole and then birdied the 18th to force the playoffs. Nelly shot a final-round 66 to edge Lydia Ko. The hometown crowd roared as she birdied the closing stretch, showing flashes of her 2021 peak. AP Photo/Steve NesiusAt Pelican Golf Club, Nelly kept her nerves in check, sinking a series of clutch putts in the final round. Her sharp iron play and calm mindset helped her mark her seventh LPGA victory of the season. She posted rounds of 66-66-67-67 for a 14-under total, winning by three strokes. This triumph made her the first American since 1990 to record seven wins in a single season, cementing her dominance in one of the most remarkable LPGA runs of the decade. Jefferee Woo/Zuma Press/ImagoFinishing at 14‑under 274 and edging out Hannah Green by one stroke, Korda won the Mizuho Americas Open on the LPGA Tour, The tournament, held over 72 holes at Liberty National Golf Club, featured top women professionals competing at a high level. Korda’s victory added to her remarkable season, showcasing her precision and consistency, and further cementing her status as one of the leading golfers in women’s golf. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire/ImagoNelly defeated Leona Maguire 4 and 3 in the final, securing her fourth consecutive LPGA Tour victory, marking her seventh win of the season, making her the first American since 1990 to win seven LPGA events in a single year. Korda's dominant performance throughout the tournament showcased her exceptional skill and consistency. AP Photo/John LocherA comeback win after her scary blood clot earlier in the year, Nelly edged Lexi Thompson by one stroke with a flawless Sunday. The emotional victory put her back at world No. 1. Her teary-eyed interview afterwards became one of the most touching LPGA moments of the decade. Ivy Ceballo/Zuma Press/ImagoThis one was a thriller. A four-way playoff with Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, and Sei Young Kim. Nelly drained a birdie on the first extra hole, capping a dramatic finish. It was the kind of Hollywood script fans dream about, and she delivered. Martha Asencio Rhine/Zuma Press/ImagoHer first major at the Atlanta Athletic Club, Nelly overpowered the course with precision irons and steady putting. A final-round 68 gave her a three-shot victory over Lizette Salas, and she rose to World No. 1 for the first time. It was less a breakthrough and more a coronation. AP Photo/John BazemoreHer 2021 Meijer LPGA Classic win came by three strokes ahead of second-place finisher Ko Jin-young, cementing her third LPGA Tour victory of the season. Korda finished at 21-under-par 267 at Ryder Golf Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amy Lemus/ImagoKorda marked her fourth LPGA title, highlighting her growing consistency on the tour, at 16-under-par 272. In her final round, 69 edged out competitors Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko by two strokes. With this, she climbed to world No. 4, reinforcing her status as one of golf’s rising stars. The tournament showcased her poise under pressure and strategic mastery on Lake Nona’s course. Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire/ImagoIn February 2019, at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia, Nelly finished two strokes ahead of Jin Young Ko, Hyo Joo Kim, and Haru Nomura. Her victory made her the fourth Korda family member to win an Australian Open title, joining her father, mother, and sister, earning her huge applause from Aussie fans Charles Baus/ImagoAt Miramar Golf Country Club in Taipei, Nelly successfully defended her title. She shot a total of 270 (−18) with rounds of 66, 67, 65, and 72. It came down to a three-way playoff between Korda, Caroline Masson, and Minjee Lee, and Korda sealed victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Her third LPGA title and back-to-back wins in Taiwan. AP Photo/Chiang Ying-yingAt just 20 years old, Nelly held off Minjee Lee for her first LPGA title, finishing at 13-under 275 at the Ta Shee Golf and Country Club. Her family, dad Petr (tennis champ), and sister Jessica (LPGA star) watched proudly. Nelly later said it was the moment she truly believed she belonged among golf’s elite. Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire/Imago
