Nelly Korda’s offseason barely felt like one. The world No. 1 only put her clubs away for seven days after playing alongside her father at the PNC Championship in late December.
During that brief break, she spent time with family, did some cooking, and tried dog sledding in Utah – though that last activity might be a one-time thing. “It was really cool experience, but I will probably never be doing that ever again,” Korda said Tuesday.
Now she’s back at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando for the LPGA’s 2025 season opener, looking to build on what she calls a “very, very, very crazy” 2024 campaign. Last year saw Korda claim seven tour victories, including her second major championship. She made history by winning five straight starts, matching an LPGA record.
The success came with valuable lessons about managing expectations and scheduling. “It was a learning experience,” Korda said, reflecting on navigating injuries and setbacks throughout the season.
After this week’s limited-field event, she’ll head home to Bradenton for the Founders Cup. She’s skipping the early-season Asia swing again, returning to defend her titles at the Ford Championship, T-Mobile Match Play and Chevron Championship.
She’ll only get to defend five of her seven titles from last year. The Drive On Championship, where she captured her first win of 2024, remains at Bradenton Country Club but now hosts the Founders Cup, where Rose Zhang is the defending champion.
Korda’s taking a measured approach to these title defenses. “The field is different. There are different girls in the field. Weather is different. Golf course could be different. There are so many variabilities that just completely changes it,” she said.
Lake Nona remains one of the few LPGA venues where victory has eluded her, though her sister Jessica won here in 2021. Nelly tied for 16th last year in this winners-only event that includes a celebrity component.
She’s bringing some new equipment to the course, including a fresh driver. The 32-player field – smaller in part due to Korda’s dominance last year – offers what she calls “a different, relaxed vibe” to start the season.
