Nelly Korda’s ‘Run’ Has USGA CEO Bluntly Ignoring Catlin Clark’s Undue Pressure: ‘Incredible Time’

“The way Caitlin plays the game… it really just captures the imagination of the fans.” That is what Fred Ridley (the Chairman of Augusta National) had to say last month about the rise of Caitlin Clark, the new star of the WNBA. Unfortunately, the rookie hasn’t experienced the same level of success she did as an amateur in the NCAA while playing as a pro, which has put significant pressure on the athlete. Nelly Korda, however, seems to be the opposite, as she has proved her skills again and again on the course. And even the CEO of the USGA agrees with this!

Mike Whan, the eighth Chief Executive Officer of the United States Golf Association, was posed with the question of the effect Korda would have on women’s golf. “We’ve seen it’s not been as easy for her (Clark) in the WNBA as much as the NCAA. Meanwhile, Nelly Korda is lighting it up at the highest level. For you and Shannon, what’s the anticipation of having her playing at this level going into the crown jewel of women’s golf?” asked the reporter. And in response, he couldn’t help but dish out praise for the 25-year-old and allude to her recent performance, all the while turning a blind eye to the pressure that Clark, as a rookie in the WNBA, was facing.

Mike Whan was never in doubt about Nelly Korda achieving greatness

“It’s an incredible time for the women’s game,” mentioned Whan while alluding to talents like Korda and the increased sponsorship and prize money that are being offered in the game of golf. He then quickly started to compliment the current No. 1 golfer in the rankings: “I think anybody who has known Nelly over the years knew it was in there. I don’t know if any of us thought it was this kind of run, but her ability to have multiple-win seasons was never in question.”

The golfer, throughout the 2024 season, raked in a total of seven top-10 finishes, including six victories. She had also managed to equal Nancy Lopez’s and Annika Sorenstam’s record of five consecutive wins. That’s not all. Her stats this season also speak for themselves. She ranks first in GIR% at 75.99%, with a scoring average of 69.26, eagles scoring (6), and the most number of rounds in the 60’s (20).

Whan, meanwhile, did not shy away from applauding the other athletes in the sport either. “There’s 70, 80 players probably working harder now than ever before, so that’s what makes these runs hard because there’s a lot of talent.” This talent, coupled with a good battle between the golfers, is what makes the game good, as per the CEO. Even so, he didn’t forget to highlight how much of a challenge the upcoming event would turn out to be for the field: “This one is going to test them mentally as much as it is physically.”

Although the official was eager to praise Nelly Korda for her gameplay and contribution to the sport, the athlete herself had a different opinion. In an interview ahead of the upcoming major, the American pro urged the community to focus more on the positives of golf while pushing for more growth in the game.

Korda’s honest analysis of the sport

Nelly Korda was asked to compare the state of women’s golf to that of women’s global sports. Even though she wasn’t too sure of what to reply, Korda did highlight the need for “an increase in viewership, from sponsors, and from people around us interested in the game of golf.” The pro, however, wasn’t alluding to just women’s golf as such, but to the whole of the game.

Doubling down on her response, the golfer added how she felt it has been growing each year: “I do know that it has been growing every single year, and I think that’s what we should focus on—the positivity of that.” Even the upcoming major in 2023 had just $11 million as the prize pool, while it increased by a million this year to $12 million. Thus, one can’t help but agree with Whan when he said, “If you can’t get excited about what’s going on in the women’s game, it’s simply because you’re not watching it!”