An Olympic champion, four-time major winner, and the world No. 1 once again in 2026, Nelly Korda shares her secrets on putting, wedges, and strategy.
Nelly Korda She is the leading figure in women's golf today: Olympic champion in Tokyo, four major tournament victories, 19 wins on the LPGA Tour, and more than 100 weeks as the world No. 1. Here is her biography, her list of achievements, and a summary of her video lessons.
Who is Nelly Korda?
Nelly Korda is an American golfer born on July 28, 1998, in Bradenton, Florida. She turned pro in 2016 and has been playing on the LPGA Tour since 2017. She won her first LPGA title in 2018 in Taiwan and claimed victory in France in 2019 at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
The year 2021 took her to a whole new level: her first major title at the Women’s PGA Championship, the No. 1 spot in the world rankings, and then a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In 2024, she had a historic season with seven victories, including five consecutive tournaments—a streak that only Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sörenstam (2004–2005) had achieved before her on the LPGA Tour. She was named LPGA Player of the Year.
In 2026, she won four tournaments, including two majors in a row: the Chevron Championship—where she led from the first round to the last by five strokes—and then her first U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Her victory at the Chevron Championship propelled her back to the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. She has been working on her swing with coach Jamie Mulligan since late 2021.
Nelly Korda's Career Highlights
| Tournament or Record | Result |
|---|---|
| Major Tournaments | 4 |
| Chevron Championship | 2: 2024, 2026 |
| Women's PGA Championship | 1: 2021 |
| U.S. Women's Open | 1: 2026 |
| Olympic Games | Gold Medal in Tokyo (2021) |
| Victories on the LPGA Tour | 19 |
| Record-breaking streak | 5 consecutive wins in 2024 |
| LPGA Player of the Year | 2024 |
| Week 1 (Worldwide) | More than 100 |
| Victories on the Ladies European Tour | 3, including the 2019 Lacoste Ladies Open de France |
| Solheim Cup | 5 appearances: 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 (win), 2026 |
Nelly Korda's Swing: Key Points
Nelly Korda works with Jamie Mulligan and his assistant Brett Lederer, who were at almost all of her events in 2024. She also credits English coach David Whelan with much of her progress. Her swing produces a high draw.
- Grip and setup: Good posture and a weak grip that keeps the face open, encourages a high flight and helps her avoid the miss to the left. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Backswing: She starts the club with her wrists, which is rare, to keep the clubhead from getting inside. Her head moves back about 3 inches: she bends more than she turns. (Australian Golf Digest, 2024)
- Downswing and impact: She starts down with a lateral hip shift onto her lead foot; the trail-shoulder tilt shallows the club, which comes from the inside. Her weight is on her toes at impact, unusual for elite players. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Finish and ball flight: A fully extended finish (arms, spine, hips and legs) with a wide arc, for a high draw. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Speed and distance: At her 2022 driver fitting, her ball speed went from 152 to 154 mph, for about 290 yards of carry. That year her LPGA Tour driving average was 272 yards, 10th on tour. (GOLF.com, 2022)
- Typical fault: When things go wrong she tends to over-rotate her hands, and her feel is often the opposite of what is really happening. (GOLF.com, 2024)
What Amateurs Can Copy from Nelly Korda's Swing
- Don't lock your head: let it move back slightly with the turn, without sliding, so you don't restrict your backswing. See our body rotation lessons.
- Feel versus real: exaggerate the new move, then check it on video. And keep taking lessons, even when things are going well. See our practice lessons.
- Keep it simple: posture first, then shift onto your lead foot before you turn. These are her coach Jamie Mulligan's general rules. See our setup and posture lessons.
Compare with other pros' swings.
Nelly Korda's Game
Nelly Korda's putting
Nelly Korda puts with her left hand low and her fingers interlaced: this grip helps her move the putter with her chest rather than her hands, especially under pressure. Putting Low Left-Hand Grip: Nelly Korda's Method. When reading, she aims for the entry point into the hole rather than an intermediate point, as she explains with Scottie Scheffler: Read the greens and putt like Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda.
Nelly Korda's Irons and Strategy
With irons, she sticks to her go-to shot. Facing three pin positions between 179 and 193 yards, with a left-side wind, she sticks to her draw. Taking on a flag with Nelly Korda and Rickie Fowler. On the course, she aims at a small target, keeps only one club in her bag, analyzes the lie first, and uses a longer club to limit the spin on the wedge: Nelly Korda with Trottie: Small Target, Reading the Lie, and Spin.
Nelly Korda's Wedges and Short Game
Like Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa, she rarely hits a full wedge shot: a longer club, a smoother swing, and less spin for a low ball and consistent distance control. Ribbed Wedges: The Scheffler, Morikawa, and Korda Method. With Tiger Woods, she demonstrates how she selects her scoring shots from less than 100 yards: Scoring from Inside 100 Yards in golf with Tiger Woods and Nelly Korda. On the green, she explains—along with Charley Hull and Brooke Henderson—which wedge to choose and how to use the bounce: Wedges around the green: Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Brooke Henderson.
Nelly Korda's Driver and Warm-Up Routine
At the driving range with Tiger Woods, she demonstrates her low, controlled drive, alongside Rory McIlroy. Driver: Nelly Korda and Rory McIlroy's Settings with Tiger. And before a round, his pre-shot routine starts with a few wedge chips, two hours before tee time, followed by Jamie Mulligan’s “rock and string” visualization for a fluid swing: Nelly Korda and Jessica Korda Warm Up with Jamie Mulligan.
Nelly Korda's Best Lessons by Topic
- Putting and Reading the Green (Putting, Grip, Psychology and Mental Game): Putting Low Left-Hand Grip: Nelly Korda's Method, Read the greens and putt like Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda.
- Wedges and Scoring Shots (wedge play, pitching, and chipping, Pitch Shots, Bunker shot): Ribbed Wedges: The Scheffler, Morikawa, and Korda Method, Scoring from Inside 100 Yards in golf with Tiger Woods and Nelly Korda, Wedges around the green: Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Brooke Henderson.
- Iron and Strategy (irons, Course Management, draw or fade): Taking on a flag with Nelly Korda and Rickie Fowler, Nelly Korda with Trottie: Small Target, Reading the Lie, and Spin.
- Driving (Driving): Driver: Nelly Korda and Rory McIlroy's Settings with Tiger.
- Warm-up and tempo (warm-up, Rhythm and Tempo): Nelly Korda and Jessica Korda Warm Up with Jamie Mulligan.
See also the fact sheets on Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa, her partners in several of these lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nelly Korda
How old is Nelly Korda?
Nelly Korda was born on July 28, 1998, in Bradenton, Florida; she is 28 years old.
How many major tournaments has Nelly Korda won?
Four: the 2021 Women's PGA Championship, the 2024 and 2026 Chevron Championships, and the 2026 U.S. Women's Open.
Is Nelly Korda an Olympic champion?
Yes, she won the gold medal in the women's golf tournament at the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021.
How many wins does Nelly Korda have on the LPGA Tour?
19 victories on the LPGA Tour, including four majors and seven titles in the 2024 season alone.
Is Nelly Korda the world No. 1?
She returned to the No. 1 spot in the world in April 2026, following her victory at the Chevron Championship. She has spent more than 100 weeks at that position during her career.
Who is Nelly Korda's coach?
Jamie Mulligan, with whom she has been working on her swing since late 2021. Their pre-shot routine is summarized on this page.
Has Nelly Korda won a tournament in France?
Yes, the 2019 Lacoste Ladies Open de France on the Ladies European Tour.
What is Nelly Korda's swing like?
A weak grip, a takeaway started with the wrists, a hip shift toward the target in the downswing and a fully extended finish for a high draw. She works with Jamie Mulligan.
