Nelly Korda Bio
Nelly Korda (born July 28, 1998) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She is a two-time major winner, claiming victories at both the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2024 Chevron Championship. In total, she has won 20 professional titles, including 15 on the LPGA Tour, and she was a gold medalist at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She has spent over 100 weeks as number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, and in both 2021 and 2024 finished as year-end number one. She has represented the United States at four Solheim Cups and was on the winning team in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Nelly Korda was born in Bradenton, Florida, where she grew up in a family of professional athletes. Her father, Petr Korda, is a retired tennis player who won the 1998 Australian Open, while her mother, Regina Rajchrtová, is also a former professional tennis player. Nelly has an older sister, Jessica Korda, who is a professional golfer, and a younger brother, Sebastian Korda, who is a professional tennis player. Korda was exposed to sports from a young age, training at the IMG Academy in her hometown, which helped her develop her skills in golf. At the age of 14, she made the cut at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open, marking her early entry into competitive golf.
Path to Golf
Nelly Korda began her amateur career with notable achievements, including winning the Kathy Whitworth Invitational and representing the United States in the 2015 Junior Solheim Cup. After a successful amateur career, she turned professional in 2016, competing initially on the Symetra Tour, where she won her first event at the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge. This victory earned her a spot on the LPGA Tour for the following season, marking the beginning of her professional journey. Korda made her LPGA Tour debut in 2017 and quickly established herself as a rising star in women’s golf.
Nelly Korda Career
Early Career (2016-2018)
Korda’s professional career began with her participation in the Symetra Tour, where she won her first professional tournament in 2016. She made her LPGA Tour debut in 2017 and finished T5th at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. In 2018, she secured her first LPGA Tour victory at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship, becoming one of the few sisters to win on the LPGA Tour alongside her sister Jessica. This victory set the stage for her future successes on the tour.
Breakthrough (2019-2021)
Korda’s breakthrough year came in 2021 when she won her first major championship at the Women’s PGA Championship, which also propelled her to the number one ranking in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. She continued her success by winning the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, becoming the first American female golfer to achieve this feat since 1900. Korda finished the year with four LPGA Tour victories and was named the LPGA Tour Player of the Year.
Notable Works and Milestones
Korda’s signature works include her major wins and her Olympic gold medal. She has been recognized for her achievements, including being named the LPGA Tour Player of the Year in 2024.
Nelly Korda Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Nelly Korda has received numerous nominations for her outstanding performances on the golf course, particularly in major championships and LPGA events.
Nelly Korda Awards Won
Nelly Korda has won several prestigious awards, including the LPGA Tour Player of the Year in 2024 and the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| LPGA Tour Player of the Year | 1 | 2024 |
| Gold Medalist at Olympics | 1 | 2020 |
Nelly Korda Family
Nelly Korda is the daughter of retired professional tennis players Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtová. She has a close-knit family, with her siblings also pursuing careers in sports. Her older sister, Jessica Korda, is a professional golfer, and her younger brother, Sebastian Korda, is a professional tennis player.
Personal Life
Nelly Korda has been in a relationship with professional ice hockey player Andreas Athanasiou since 2019. In 2021, she was recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for earners under the age of 30, and in 2024, she was named the 8th highest earning female athlete in the world. Additionally, the American Junior Golf Association named a junior tournament after her, known as The Nelly Invitational, held at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.
