The LPGA is kicking off its 2025 marketing campaign this week, however it didn’t really feel like a lot of an offseason for Nelly Korda.
The world No. 1 mentioned Tuesday she solely put the golf equipment away for seven days, following her look along with her father within the PNC Championship, which concluded Dec. 22.
Throughout that week, Korda mentioned she frolicked with household, cooked and even did some canine sledding in Utah.
“That was extra of like a one-and-done state of affairs,” Korda mentioned of the snowy tour. “It was actually cool expertise, however I’ll in all probability by no means be doing that ever once more.”
What she’d like to do once more, nevertheless, is repeat her efficiency of final season. Korda received seven instances on tour, together with her second profession main. 5 of these triumphs got here in successive begins, tying a tour report.
“Very, very, very loopy” – three verys – was how she described 2024. For all the highs, the season additionally had its share of lows with just a few accidents and a few main mishaps. Finally, she mentioned it was a “studying expertise,” encompassing every part from not specializing in others’ expectations to correctly managing her schedule.
Korda will play this week’s limited-field event at Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership in Orlando, Florida, after which subsequent week at her dwelling in Bradenton, for the Founders Cup. She’ll once more skip the tour’s early-year, three-event Asia swing, and return to motion for her title defenses on the Ford Championship, T-Cell Match Play and Chevron Championship.
Korda will solely get an opportunity this season to defend 5 of her seven victories. The Drive On Championship – her first win of ’24 – was contested at Bradenton Nation Membership. That website stays however is now internet hosting the rescheduled Founders Cup, which is formally Rose Zhang’s event to defend.
Additionally faraway from the schedule is the Fir Hills Se Ri Pak Championship, which was a part of Korda’s early-2024 title run.
She doesn’t focus an excessive amount of on previous success, although, noting how a lot can change from one 12 months to the following. “I imply, the sector is completely different. There [are] completely different ladies within the area. Climate is completely different. Golf course could possibly be completely different. There are such a lot of variabilities that simply utterly modifications it,” she mentioned.
TV instances and extra for the LPGA’s Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions.
That is one event Korda has by no means received (although, her sister, Jessica, did in 2021). Nelly tied for 16th final 12 months within the occasion which is open to LPGA winners over the past two years and features a concurrent, 72-hole superstar portion.
Partly to Korda’s dominance, this 12 months’s LPGA area stands at 32 gamers.
Armed with “slightly bit of kit modifications,” together with a brand new driver, her follow-up to a historic season begins on Thursday — an ideal smooth launch.
“It’s a unique, relaxed vibe,” she mentioned, “and no higher technique to begin off the 12 months than taking part in on this occasion.”
