When we think of world number one Nelly Korda, it’s important to acknowledge her support system. Coming from a family of tennis professionals, Nelly has received substantial support, especially from her elder sister, Jessica Korda. Jessica has always worked hard to make Korda’s journey in golf easier. Jessica Korda, the 6x LPGA winner, expressed that despite sharing the same profession, they “basically just help each other out as much as we can.” “If the other one is struggling with something, the other one’s always there to help,” Jessica continued. This mutual support is noticeable in their relationship and can often be spotted on and off course. Take this year’s Grant Thornton Invitational, for instance, despite being sleepless and in the weak condition of her ten-month-old baby, Jessica Korda is at Tiburon Golf Club. Not to play, but to support her World No. 1 golfing sister.

What’s even more fascinating is the childhood companionship Jessica and Nelly Korda share with each other. Jessica shared some stories about Nelly’s early years, and it’s clear that Nelly was a firecracker even back then! Due to their age difference, Jessica and Korda didn’t directly compete against each other. Instead, Jessica took on that mother figure big sister role, guiding her sister through various aspects of golf.

During an interview, Jessica recalled a specific moment when Nelly was playing in a junior golf tournament, saying, “She always wore my hand-me-downs. I would get Adidas shoes or whatever it was, so I was a supplier!” The new mom laughed along with the podcast host of The Smylie Show while sharing these memories. Till now, everything seemed perfect, but things took a turn when “one girl showed up in like the same outfit or the same shoes,” on the greens. “It upset Nelly so bad that she went out and was just like, ‘I’m going to beat you like I don’t care about how many like you are going down,'” Jessica said, explaining her sister’s scary competitive side from a very young age.

“Golf is not a match play, but Nelly took it as a match plaything,” Korda explained, putting light on Nelly Korda’s fiery attitude. And that looks like some serious determination! It’s no wonder Nelly Korda has become one of the best golfers in the world today. And her elder sister always knew it from a very young age. This probably pushed her further to win the junior golf tournaments back then and the Olympic gold medal!

How far has Nelly Korda come along?

Nelly’s talent and commitment were evident from an early age, as she qualified for her first US Women’s Open at the age of 15. During the podcast, Jessica also admitted that Nelly’s move to professional golf had hurdles. She struggled with travel and the stress of competing at a high level. However, these experiences eventually helped Nelly grow and strengthen her skills.

From winning her first LPGA event at the 2018 LPGA Taiwan Championship to winning her first major at the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship, Nelly’s determination and talent have only grown stronger. She has also built a reputation for herself by landing endorsement deals with major brands such as Nike, Cisco, and Titleist.

In fact, Forbes projected her endorsement earnings at a stunning $6.5 million in 2023. As the 25-year-old continued to impress, people speculated whether she would be able to break Lydia Ko and Jason Day’s 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational record. Will it be another lesson for the World No. 1?