Nelly Korda is adding “Sports Illustrated swimsuit model” to her already impressive resume. The world’s top-ranked golfer confirmed Thursday that she’ll be featured in SI’s 2025 swimsuit issue.
“It was so cool,” Korda said after her opening round at The Annika tournament. “About probably two months ago we got the call to do it.”
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The shoot took place in Boca Raton, Florida, with SI releasing a sneak peek of images two weeks ago.
For Korda, it was a completely different kind of challenge than sinking putts under pressure. “I’m not used to doing anything like that; so outside my comfort zone,” she admitted with a laugh.
But the 25-year-old star quickly found her groove. “The whole crew was amazing. By the end of day I was having so much fun with them,” she said.
Back on more familiar territory, Korda showed no rust in her first tournament appearance since mid-September. She fired an impressive 4-under 66 at Pelican Golf Club, finishing with a dramatic chip-in birdie on her final hole.
“Didn’t really know what to expect. Was definitely a little nervous on the first couple holes,” she said about her return to competition. She hadn’t played a tour event since the Kroger Queen City Championship nearly two months ago.
The round put her just two shots off the clubhouse lead in the LPGA Tour’s second-to-last event of 2023. Not bad for someone who’s been busy expanding her horizons beyond the golf course.
It’s been quite a year for Korda. She’s already locked up Player of the Year honors and claimed six tour victories. Now she’s joining the ranks of athletes who’ve appeared in SI’s famous swimsuit edition, which hits newsstands next May.
“I think that’s what’s great about these opportunities,” Korda said. “You get to step outside your comfort zone and do something different.”
