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NELLY KORDA INTERVIEW: SEASON ROUND-UP

Matt Nicholson — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:56:24 +0000

As she closes out a year of hole-outs, heartbreaks, and hard-earned progress, Nelly Korda talks about managing pressure, tuning out the noise, and finding confidence in the grind that defined her 2025 campaign.

Q. After the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship. Just wrapped up here. What can you say about this week and honestly just the season as a whole for you?

NELLY KORDA: Obviously the main goal was to finish on top, but after my first day I did give it a run for it. Even thought leaders were super far ahead. Always felt like I was playing catchup in a sense.

Overall, yeah, another year. I’m grateful for it all. Grateful for the highs, lows, and grateful for my team.

Q. You tapped in one of the best shots of your year on the 11th. Take us through that hole-out.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, hit my driver a little out right. Honestly wasn’t a bad place to miss it out there. I had 136 yards which was a perfect 9-iron and I hit it — like I hit it really pure, which is also really nice when you hole-out, when it all matches up.

And I’ve never heard Jason yell that loud. Even the cameraman he was like, dude, I got scared. It was nice to see that go in. In the past year I’ve been lipping out, so for it to be the last round of the year, obviously last round of the season, it felt good to see that go in.

Q. When you look back at 2025 what’s a word you’ll use to describe the season and why?

NELLY KORDA: A grind. Yeah, just there was — I feel like there was a lot of ups and downs and it made me grow a lot mentally and I would say I’m just also very grateful for it because, you know, success is never linear.

Q. How do you think you’ve grown mentally?

NELLY KORDA: I would just say expectations, listening to outside noises, really just sticking to what I know best, and that’s to keep everything simple.

Q. Are there any shots that replay through your mind throughout the course of the season that you wish you could have back?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, precisely No. 18 at the U.S. Open. I actually hit that shot so good. Probably hit that shot the best that I did all year, and just because of the adrenaline I hit it probably, I don’t know, ten yards too long and a little bit too left; was in the place that at the beginning of the week on Monday I was like, I cannot be here, and I was there.

So if I could get one shot back, that would be it.

But I mean, there are so many. That’s the one that kind of comes to mind, yeah.

But everything happens for a reason.

Q. It’s interesting that this many years in adrenaline is still something that you have to figure out and factor in.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. I guess it varies from moment to moment exactly how adrenaline will impact a shot.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think everyone kind of deals with it. You’re always learning. You never have it figured out really. That’s why it always humbles you.

Q. When you talked about your team early this week and how they have kind of given you a different look at things when you vent to them, just curious what have they given you perspective on that you can’t maybe yourself can’t take a step back and look at?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, just kind of like more of like outcomes of tournaments. Like where you’re just kind of looking at the actual outcome of not winning, not finishing inside the top 10, not contending. At the end of the day like it’s all about also improving from week to week, especially if maybe you’re in the hitting it great and you see an improvement in that.

So just kind of more of a different perspective.

Q. You said you’ll remember the highs and the lows from this year. What do you consider one or two of the highs or one or two of the lows?

NELLY KORDA: Highs was probably the U.S. Women’s Open. I mean, the adrenaline rush, there is nothing like it. The highs are probably like seeing like the great flashes in my game where I’m very excited about the work that I put in.

Then some of the lows are like every girl can say that out here, ever pro can say that, you put so much time in effort into your craft and you just don’t play well. You just do it over and over and over again. Sometimes you just go a little crazy.

Q. LeBron commented again on a Nelly post. I don’t know, is there a future round?

NELLY KORDA: Hopefully, fingers crossed. I mean, he is a very busy man and we definitely do not live on the same coast of the U.S.

So if timing matches up it would be great to play with him.

Q. How cool is it to see people like that react to the women’s game?

NELLY KORDA: It’s so great. You kind of see it across different sports, and it’s fun to see women’s golf have its moment as well. You see the tennis where all the stars come and watch all the amazing pros and then you see it with the men’s game, too. For people to finally see not just myself but all the other amazing girls out here and finally get their time, you know to be on primetime TV and people to invest in us and our craft and really know that we are great, has been a lot of fun.

I hope to see it continue growing.

Q. Just one quick one: Jeeno now has set a single-season scoring record beating Annika’s record from 2002.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. Can you put in perspective how hard it is to beat any of Annika’s records, but what that means over the course of a year?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it’s quite amazing. Great talent, great player. It’s fun to see her craft kind of up close as well.

But, yeah, I mean, it’s kind of crazy, right? To finally beat a record so far in — what was it, 2002 you said? For it to take until 2025, I mean, it’s crazy. That just tells you that the greats don’t come along too often

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Hull reigns supreme at Queen City Championship

Nick Bayly — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:57:34 +0000

Charley Hull captured her third LGPA Tour title after overhauling world no.1 Jeeno Thitikul on the final hole of the Queen City Championship at TPC River’s Bend in Ohio.

Both Hull and Thitikul reached the final green in two shots, with Thitikul putting her first putt inside six feet from the cup. Hull missed her eagle chance, but Thitikul slid both her birdie attempt and her putt for par, which would have forced a play-off, past the hole. It left Hull a two-foot putt for birdie and victory, which she converted to seal her first LPGA Tour win since 2022.

Hull closed with a final round 68 to finish on 20-under-par and collect the $300,000 winner’s prize.

“I wasn’t really watching her putt for birdie because I thought she was going to hole it,” said Hull, who had finished runner-up in her previous two starts and now moves to eighth in the world ranking. “I guess it’s not over until the fat lady sings, but I was shaking over that last putt because I just didn’t expect it. But yeah, it feels great.”

England’s Lottie Woad finished third, one shot behind Thitikul, to secure her highest finish on the US circuit since turning pro earlier this season, following wins at the Irish Open and the Scottish Open on the Ladies European Tour.

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Novellus Finance Announces Long-Term Partnership with Lottie Woad

Matt Nicholson — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:50:15 +0000

Novellus have announced Lottie Woad as a Novellus ambassador until the end of 2030.

Having partnered with Lottie under a NIL agreement during which time, Lottie enjoyed significant success remaining the number 1 ranked amateur in the world, finishing as the low amateur in the US Open at Erin Hills, winning the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, finishing tied 3rd at the Evian before turning professional.

In her debut event on the LPGA at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, Lottie won impressively against 15 of the world’s top 25 proving she very much belongs at the top table in the Woman’s game.

Billy McManus, CEO of Novellus said: “Lottie is an exceptional, generational talent.

We have been privileged to have played a small supporting role in the last few months of her journey and like the rest of the world, watched in awe of her maturity and the quality of her game.

She is a wonderful role model, a super professional and above all else, a really good person.

We couldn’t be happier to have Lottie represent us on the global stage. I would like to thank Paul McDonnell and the team at Excel as well as Cian Branagan at Forefront for their assistance in making this partnership happen”.

Lottie will continue to have Novellus front of hat and become a brand ambassador through to the end of 2030.

LOTTIE QUOTE

Lottie Woad: “I’m delighted to have secured this long-term support from Novellus.

Billy and the team have been great partners and shown a genuine interest in my career.

I can’t wait to continue to represent Novellus and hope that the good fortune since we began the partnership continues for many years to come”.

Paul McDonnell from Excel: “Novellus have been big supporters of the Woman’s game for some time.

Through the Rose Ladies Series, the KPMG Woman’s Irish Open and three former Curtis Cup players (including Lottie) their commitment to the future of the game has been commendable.

Cementing such a significant investment this early in a professional’s career is testament to the level and potential of Lottie and also the vision and belief Billy and Novellus have shown since meeting Lottie.

It’s a great partnership to have helped put together and we can’t wait to see what they’ll accomplish together”.

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LOTTIE WOAD WOMEN’S SCOTTISH OPEN WINNER’S INTERVIEW

Matt Nicholson — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 20:21:33 +0000

Lottie Woad winner of the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open gives an interview after winning on her first start on the LPGA Tour

Q. Talk about your first professional start, kind of put into words what that means to you.

I think it’s quite hard to do that, but very special to win in my first event. You know, everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots, which is nice.

What was the mindset coming down the final stretch, 16, 17, 18?

I didn’t really know the score most of the back nine. There wasn’t really any scoreboards to be honest. Only knew on 18 or 17, I saw that I had two shots. Kind of assumed she would birdie 18 but then found out she didn’t. Only had like 170 but just laid up and then pitched on.

This week you were never under any real pressure, and you never put yourself in stressful situations. How impressive was that?

I mean, it might have looked less stressful than maybe it was at times, but I think I only had like three bogeys, which, I mean, the wind wasn’t too bad the first due days. But on links golf, it’s definitely about bogey avoidance. That was probably the key to winning.

It was fitting that you hit probably two wedges to set up the birdie at the last. Has that always been the strength of your game?

My wedges have always been a strength, and my approaches in general, I can usually rely on it and control the spin pretty nicely.

Tell us about the Scott connection, the other day, your grannie and your aunt, I think, they live in Scotland?

They live in Scotland. They are not Scottish. They live in Edinburgh. So I’m up here quite a bit.

Did you have them here today?

Yeah, it was great.

What are their names?

Sarah and Marian (laughter)… I don’t call them that.

I don’t want to dwell on the monetary side of things, but obviously you forfeited a heck of a bit of money in the last few. Nice to putt a cheque in the bank?

I don’t even know what the winner’s cheque is. But yeah, I mean, a lot of people have obviously talked about me not winning any money.

But I knew going into this event, at the start, I wasn’t going to win any money. Didn’t make too much difference. And then I knew if I kept playing how I was, then it would all work out.

The amateur-to-pro transition can be quite difficult. It’s early days yet, but any advice for people like Hannah, who had her first pro event this week, as well, Curtis Cup, how you approach it, and what your mindset is in this whole thing?

I think just getting experience is great. Played a lot of majors and pro events before this. So it wasn’t all knew, really. So I think just the more experiences you give yourself, the better.

Go and ride the crest of the wave down to Wales now, then? Looking forward to another AIG?

Just looking to continue the momentum, really.

Porthcawl, have you played there?

I played there once.

Any success?

It was a practise round a few weeks ago.

But you’ll be getting used to this heighten expectation, of course. Do you just shrug that off?

I try to but it’s not always easy. Just looking forward to it.

For the sake of Martin and for Nick, why does the granny and the auntie, why do they live in Scotland?

My aunt’s husband is Scottish. So he’s from Scotland (laughter).

I don’t know why she moved up. Maybe Sarah, my aunt, is the favourite child and she wanted to be near her.

Many players say they win with their B Game. Do you feel like you’re playing your best golf, and if not, when do you think you were?

I don’t think for all four rounds, but I mean, definitely feels pretty good. I think it’s hard to label what your A and B Game is but the first day was probably where I played the worst but still scored pretty good. And honestly, yesterday, I probably played the best and didn’t score the best either. So it just kind of depends, really.

Describe what golf has been like the month of July, the win, the tied third at Evian and then this win.

LOTTIE WOAD: It’s been pretty good, yeah. I don’t really know how to describe it. Just been shooting low scores, which is always nice.

What was your emotions, and what were you feeling like inside when you were on 18?

I mean, I felt pretty good going down 18 because I knew I had a two-shot lead and just hit an 80-yard lay-up and an 80-yard shot. So I felt pretty confident coming down there. It was always nice to finish with a birdie. So just had like a two-footer, which is a nice length, so yeah, happy.

Is it a challenge to remain outwardly calm in such extraordinary and exciting moments as you’ve experienced today?

It’s always a challenge not to think too far ahead. There’s definitely times where I just had to try and think back to the next shot coming down the stretch. But yeah, just try and fix the next shot, really.

You told me last week that you needed to buy a car in the U.S. first for your first pro cheque. Have you thought about what kind of car? They said on the broadcast that you don’t have a license. Do you have a license in the U.S. or do you have a license in the U.K.?

Who gave them that info? I wonder. No, I need to take my test in America and get a car. Yeah, that’s the plan.

Do you have a kind of car in mind?

No.

How did the nerves today compare to winning at Augusta?

Probably a bit less to be honest. I think Augusta, that was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win.

So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this.

And how has the week been at Dundonald and how have you enjoyed playing the course and the facilities and everything?

It’s been great. Never been here before. The course is amazing, in great condition, and played different every day with the different wind directions. It was a nice challenge and everyone here has been so kind.

Do you ever have a sleepless night in the tournament? Sleep okay last night?

Slept fine (Laughter).

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Male-born players banned from playing in women’s events

Nick Bayly — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 08:30:26 +0000

Transgender women who have gone through male puberty will not be allowed to compete on any of the leading women’s professional golf tours from next year.

The updated rules on gender policy, which were announced by the LPGA on December 4, will apply to the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour (which operates a tier below the LPGA Tour in the US), the Ladies European Tour, and all other elite LPGA events, including the US Women’s Open.

Previously, the LPGA allowed players to compete if they had undergone gender-affirming surgery after puberty and met hormone therapy requirements. But these rules have now been changed.

“The LPGA has updated its gender policy for competition eligibility, effective starting with the 2025 season,” the LPGA said in a statement. “The policy – informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law – was developed with input from a broad array of stakeholders and prioritises the competitive integrity of women’s professional tournaments and elite amateur competitions.

“This working group has advised that the effects of male puberty confer competitive advantages in golf performance compared to players who have not undergone male puberty.”

The statement added that players recorded as male at birth and who have gone through male puberty “are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events”.

R&A expected to follow LPGA’s lead

The R&A, which governs golf’s rules outside the US and Mexico, is expected to adopt the same policy from 1 January next year for its women’s championships, including the AIG Women’s Open.

The changes to the rules will prevent Scottish-born American Hailey Davidson from seeking membership of the LPGA Tour. The 31-year-old, who transitioned after playing men’s college golf in the United States, failed to qualify for a card on the leading women’s tour when finishing 95th at the second stage of LPGA Q School in October.

Davidson’s participation prompted widespread protest, with 275 female players signing a letter asking for changes to policies which allowed people recorded male at birth to compete in women’s events.

Davidson played on the men’s team at Wilmington University in Delaware before transferring to the men’s team at Christopher Newport in Virginia.

Responding to the rule change on Instagram, Davidson said: “I can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.”

Announcing the changed rule for 2025, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, the commissioner of the LPGA, said: “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach. The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organisation, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”

In updating its policy, the LPGA follows other governing bodies from sports including swimming and athletics in banning transgender women from competing in the female category at elite level if they have gone through male puberty.

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LPGA players’ prize money increased by £10.2million for 2025 season

Matt Nicholson — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:32:22 +0000

By Phil Casey

LPGA players will compete for a record 131million US dollars (£103million) next season, Tour officials have announced.

The total prize fund for the Tour’s 75th season represents an increase of 13 million dollars (£10.2million) from 2024.

“The 2024 season was another year of historic growth for the LPGA Tour and, with this 2025 schedule, we will continue to improve on that growth,” LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said.

“This schedule is highlighted by two exciting new events, a new multi-year title for the longest-running non-major tournament on the LPGA Tour, even higher purse sizes, increased benefits that will enhance the athlete experience, improved geographical flow and a longer off-season that will give our athletes a well-deserved rest after their tremendous work in 2024.”

The season-ending Tour Championship, which offers a record £3.1million first prize, will continue to be sponsored by the CME Group until 2027.

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Korda captures seventh win of the season

Nick Bayly — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:15 +0000

World no.1 Nelly Korda overhauled England’s Charley Hull on the back nine on Sunday to win her third LPGA Annika title.

Korda, who had been out of action since September with a neck problem, started the final day at Pelican Golf Club in Florida one shot behind Hull, who had led from Thursday’s opening round at the event, which is named in honour of Sweden’s 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam.

Korda made a slow start, with three bogeys on her front nine, but five birdies in a row from the 11th saw her move two strokes ahead of Hull with three holes to play. The 26-year-old held her nerve to par the last three holes and finish with a round of 67 and a total of 14 under total.

A dropped shot by Hull on the 17th hole saw her fall out of contention for the win and she finished with a 71 for a share of second on 11 under alongside China’s Weiwei Zhang and Korea’s Jin Hee Im.

It was a seventh title of the year for Korda, who had sealed the LPGA Tour’s 2024 Rolex Player of the Year Award the week before.

“After taking time off for an injury it feels great to be back,” said Korda, who earned $487,000 for the win. “I was certainly feeling the nerves on the back nine. There’s nothing like the adrenaline of being in the hunt on the back nine – I love it so much.”

For all the scores from LPGA Annika, click here.

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Kyriacou edges into narrow lead at the Evian

Nick Bayly — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 20:29:15 +0000

Australian Stephanie Kyriacou edged a stroke ahead of Ayaka Furue and Lauren Coughlin with a birdie on the final hole in the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship.

The 23-year-old from Sydney, fired a 67 in hot and sunny conditions at Evian Resort Golf Club for a 54-hole total of 14-under-par at the fourth women’s major of the season.

The world No.100 played 19-and-a-half holes on Saturday, after the second round was suspended overnight due to thunderstorms. She completed her second round at 8am before taking a nap and then starting her third round five hours later.

The two-time Ladies European Tour winner began her third round two strokes behind Furue and the Japanese player had built a three-stroke lead after eight holes, but Kyriacou rallied on the back nine and the pair duelled for the lead, until Coughlin set the clubhouse target at 13-under with an eagle on 18 – her second of the day after another on hole nine.

Kyriacou went out in 34 after making a bogey on the first, followed by three consecutive birdies and another dropped shot on the sixth, but hit back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11, where there was a two-shot swing as Furue made her first bogey of the tournament.

Furue birdied 12 to win back her advantage, but then found the rough and made her second bogey on 13. Kyriacou birdied the long 15th, but then three-putted the short 16th. She made a tricky downhill birdie putt from seven feet on the last to take the outright lead.

Speaking after her round, Kyriacou said: “The more you play this course, the more you figure out its tips and tricks . Like, you’re never going to get a flat lie, using the slopes on the green. I’ve not been contention on the Sunday of a major before, so it’s an exciting challenge. I going to sleep well tonight, that’s for sure – it’s been a long day!”

Second round leader Furue, who is just one shot off the lead, was not satisfied with her third round 70. She said: “My shots were not that good today, but I had some huge par saves so that was kind of good for me. Steph made a lot of birdies today, and otherwise I couldn’t get any like birdie chances today. So that was a little bit frustrating.”

Pajaree Anannarukarn is three strokes further back in fourth place on 10-under-par. Ally Ewing had the round of the day – a seven-under-par 64 – and shares fifth with Hye-Jin Choi and Patty Tavatanakit.

Georgia Hall was the only English player to make the cut and is 13 strokes behind the leader in tied 21st after adding a third round 71 to earlier rounds of 69 and 67. Charley Hull shot a 79 and a 69 to miss the cut by five shots, while Surrey amateur Lottie Woad was +3 for her two rounds.

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Nelly Korda crashes out of Women’s PGA Championship after 81

Matt Nicholson — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 07:43:06 +0000

Sarah Schmelzel and Amy Yang grabbed the halfway lead in the Women’s PGA Championship as world number one Nelly Korda collapsed to a second round 81.

Korda, who opened with an 80 in the US Open two weeks ago after six wins in her previous seven starts, missed the cut after starting the tournament tied for second.

She opened her second round with four straight bogeys and had to wait until the 18th for her only birdie of the day to miss the cut by a stroke at the Sahalee Country Club in Washington state.

“No words for how I’m playing right now,” said Korda. “I’m just going to go home and try to reset.

“A lot went my way at the beginning part of the year, and just giving it back.”

American Schmelzel carded six birdies in a five-under-par 67 to top the leaderboard alongside South Korea’s Yang, who had a bogey-free 68.

Schmelzel, without a win in six years on the LPGA Tour, said: “I kind of caught a glimpse of leaderboard on 17 and saw I was right around the lead.

“It was just nice to be able to finish that well, too, knowing I was around the lead in a major.

Overnight leader Lexi Thompson recovered from an early double bogey, making three birdies coming home in a 72 which leaves her two strokes back alongside Korea’s Jin Young Ko and Hinako Shibuno from Japan.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire carded a 71 to sit in a group three strokes off the lead with England’s Charley Hull a further two shots back after a 73.

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Lexi Thompson retiring from full-time golf at end of season

Matt Nicholson — Tue, 28 May 2024 17:09:53 +0000

Lexi Thompson has announced she will retire from competing on the women’s professional tours at the end of the season.

Thompson, 29, an 11-time LPGA Tour winner who appeared in the Solheim Cup six times, said in an audio letter on Instagram that she will be “stepping away from a full professional golf schedule” at the end of 2024.Currently preparing to compete at the US Women’s Open in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Thompson said: “While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time. At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule.

“I’m excited to enjoy the remainder of the year as there are still goals I want to accomplish. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion, Leo.

“I will always look for ways to contribute to the sport and inspire the next generation of golfers. And of course, I look forward to a little time for myself.”

Thompson burst on to the world scene as a 12-year-old in 2007 when she became the US Open’s youngest-ever qualifier at the time.

She spent nine years, from 2013 to 2022, as a permanent fixture in the Rolex Rankings’ top 10, represented the USA at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and will be appearing in her 18th successive US Open at the Lancaster Country Club this week.

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