‘Emotional’ Nelly Korda’s Brave Choice to Face the Media After Career-Worst Performance Earns Golf World’s Respect

In just 173 days, Nelly Korda has experienced everything from the highest of highs in her career to the lowest of lows. The Bradenton native started the 2024 season with a bang! In the first eight events, Korda emerged victorious in six events and rewrote history, securing a spot as one of the best golfing talents of this era.

However, recently, the performance of the 14-time LPGA Tour winner has seen some hiccups. For the first time in her professional career, Korda has missed three consecutive cuts, the most recent one at the KMPG Women’s PGA Championships. There, the 25-year-old shot 6 over 81 in her second round, carding the worst round of her career on the LPGA Tour.

Despite this, the 2-time major winner decided to face the media at the end of round two at the Sahalee Country Club. Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nicholas shared on X (previously Twitter) that Korda was extremely emotional and stopped and started the interview again. At the press conference, the dejected LPGA star said, “It’s just golf recently for me. No words for how I’m playing right now. … A lot went my way at the beginning part of the year and just giving it back.” 

Owing to the miserable finish, Korda could not answer the press for long. After answering two questions, despondent, she left the conference. However, the golf fans still appreciated the 14-time LPGA Tour winner for her efforts after the second round.

Golf fans try to cheer Nelly Korda after missed cut

In the second round at the Sahalee Country Club, Nelly Korda started with four consecutive bogeys on the front four holes. Her bogey parade did not stop there, as she made four more at the rest of the holes, including a double bogey at the par-4, 15th. Although Korda needed a birdie on the final hole, it couldn’t salvage her bad finish.

Even so, the 14-time LPGA Tour winner was up to answer the questions, which were applauded by the No Laying Up editorial director, Kevin Van Valkenburg. He appreciatively said, “Props to Nelly for talking after this.” Another golf enthusiast and writer for Golf.com, Jack Hirsh, was also in awe of Korda as she bravely faced the cameras. He empathized with the LPGA star, and stated, “Good on her for facing the media. Probably the worst round of her career.” 

After losing the U.S. Open by one stroke, Rory McIlroy was utterly gutted and made haste to leave Pinehurst No. 2 as soon as he could. The Northern Irishman didn’t meet the champion, Bryson DeChambeau, nor did he face the press conference. One user chose to compare the two situations while also recounting Korda’s poor performance last year, highlighting her positive attitude as she always spoke to the media despite the challenges. They said, “No knock on Rory, but props to her for offering this. I remember, I think it was before last year’s U.S. Open, a time when her form wasn’t nearly as good as it is now, she told people about feeling “tight” meaning stressed and bound up. It was a peek in that was revealing.” 

Nelly Korda was the first LPGA Tour player to ever win five times consecutively in the same season after she won the Chevron Championship. This has carved Korda’s name into the LPGA’s record book. But recently, she missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open, the Meijer LPGA Classic, and now at the PGA Championship, which was unique to her career too. As this viewer sarcastically noted, “Went from winning 6 of 7 which is incredible to playing absolutely awful for last three tournaments which is incredible as well.” 

Taking rest had seemed to always work for Korda. She took a short hiatus right after the LPGA Drive-On victory and came back after a month of vacation. The time spent off the course surely helped her, as she went on a winning streak. Taking this into account, one fan suggested, “Take some time off, come back hungry.” 

The event on the LPGA Tour’s schedule is the Dow Lakes Great Bay Invitational, followed by the fourth women’s major, the Evian Championship. Last year, Korda missed the invitational, and after the recent disappointing run, she might miss it again and directly tee up at Evian Championship. Regardless, whenever Korda returns to the LPGA Tour now, she will try her absolute best to break the missed cut streak.