Our top 16 teams have completed the first round of the Grant Thornton Invitational, and enthusiasm is high in the air. With powerhouses like Korda/Berger, Ko/Day, Tavatanakit/Knapp, and 13 other teams dominating the course, the competition is shaping up to be spectacular. But, amidst all the golfing action, we’re focusing on an intriguing connection that has everyone talking. Nelly Korda’s “cool-weird” relationship with “Mom Jess” – aka Jessica Korda.

Jessica Korda recently appeared on the Smiley Show’s podcast, “Pro Mom Golf,” and discussed her connection with the #1 Nelly Korda. As Jessica spilled the tea, it turned out that she has always been a bit of a “mom” to her younger sister. It was even when they were competing against each other. “I literally have more like a mom, not a relationship, but like a feeling towards her,” Jessica told Kaufman. “So it’s less of like I wanna beat you down, it’s more of like I wanna see you rise,” she went on.

But don’t get it wrong as the LPGA pro mom isn’t all about caring and supporting. “I always like wanted her to do well, but obviously, at the end of the day, like I wanted to beat her,” she admitted. According to the 6X LPGA winner, this sibling competition is actually what motivated the Korda sisters to be their best selves on the course.

But it wasn’t just about competition. Jessica also told a story about how she was constantly looking for ways to help Nelly better her game. “We played in the final round together at Tournament of Champions a couple of years ago, and the entire time in my head, I was like taking notes on like what I can tell her after to like get better or like make it easier,” Jessica revealed. This degree of support and encouragement is what makes their relationship so unique. Jessica described it as “so cool… also super weird,” referring to how they were always encouraging one other while also wanting to win the event.

Nelly Korda is currently competing in the Grant Thornton Invitational, teamed with Daniel Berger. They’re off to a terrific start, ranking fourth after the first round. But what’s even more intriguing is what Jessica said about the Grant Thornton Invitational game on the podcast.

What Jessica Korda thinks about Nelly Korda’s current event

As the 2024 season comes to an end, Grant Thornton Invitational is dubbed to be the most intriguing event. It’s one of a kind which brings best of PGA and LPGA professionals on the course. But what makes it truly special? Jessica Korda, part of the behind-the-scenes media team at the event, revealed why the Grant Thornton Invitational is a game-changer for golf pros.

According to Jessica, it’s all about the “mingling of the two tours,” which allows them to learn much from each other. When asked about her thoughts on the tournament, Jessica shared, “I think the coolest part of Grant Thornton is that you walk into player dining, and you have the team sitting together, talking about just life, and sharing stories, and sharing just life journeys.”

Jessica also touched on the fact that the Grant Thornton Invitational is a great platform for the women’s game to shine. She loved the experience of growing up and playing with guys all the time, and she appreciated the aspect of the two tours coming together to grow the game of golf.

And it’s not only the new mom who thinks like that, Rickie Fowler had also mentioned, “fun to see if there is more of it,” referring to the mixed-gender events. As the Grant Thornton Invitational continues, we can’t wait to see what the rest of the tournament holds. Let us know how you feel about the event, in the comment section below!