The golf world has always known Nelly Korda as a beacon of talent, resilience, and poise. At just 26, the American star has cemented her place as one of the LPGA Tour’s brightest lights, with 14 career victories, including the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and a historic 2024 season where she clinched six titles before June. But behind the dazzling fairway drives and trophy-laden mantel lies a deeply personal story of struggle that nearly drove her to abandon the sport she now dominates. In a raw and emotional interview on the *Inside the LPGA* podcast, recorded in November 2024 and widely discussed as of July 15, 2025, Korda opened up about a battle with self-doubt, physical setbacks, and a moment when she almost quit golf entirely. For fans scrolling through X on their phones, her tearful confession has sparked waves of empathy and admiration. Here’s the gripping story of Nelly Korda’s near-breaking point and her remarkable journey back to the top.
A Star Under Pressure
It’s a crisp autumn day in 2024, and Nelly Korda is sitting across from hosts Emma Talley and Hope Barnett on the *Inside the LPGA* podcast. The setting is relaxed, but the atmosphere grows heavy as Korda, usually guarded about her personal life, begins to share. “I’m going to have good days, and I’m going to have really bad days, and it doesn’t define me,” she says, her voice steady but laced with emotion. The quote, shared by the LPGA’s official X account on November 15, 2024, resonates with thousands, racking up likes and retweets as fans sense something deeper.
Korda’s 2024 season was nothing short of extraordinary. She started the year with a bang, winning five consecutive LPGA events—a feat only Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam had achieved before her. Her sixth victory at the Mizuho Americas Open in May solidified her as World No. 1. But as the podcast delves into her journey, Korda reveals that her path to greatness was nearly derailed by a crisis that tested her spirit. “There was a moment when I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” she confesses, her words halting. “I almost quit.”
The Weight of Expectations
Korda’s struggles began in the shadow of her meteoric rise. Born into a family of athletes—her father, Petr Korda, won the 1998 Australian Open tennis title, her mother, Regina Rajchrtová, was a professional tennis player, and her siblings, Jessica (a fellow LPGA pro) and Sebastian (a rising tennis star), also compete at elite levels—the pressure to succeed was immense. By 2019, at age 20, Korda had already won her first LPGA title at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. But with success came scrutiny. “Everyone expects you to win every week,” she says on the podcast, “and when you don’t, it feels like you’re letting people down.”
The turning point came in 2022, a year that tested Korda’s resolve. Early in the season, she was diagnosed with a blood clot in her arm, a terrifying health scare that required surgery and sidelined her for months. “I was scared for my life, not just my golf career,” she admits, her voice cracking. The physical recovery was grueling, but the mental toll was even heavier. Returning to the tour, Korda struggled to regain her form, missing cuts and facing whispers that her early success was a fluke. Posts on X from that period show fans debating her potential, with some writing, “Is Nelly Korda overrated?” The criticism stung, and self-doubt crept in.
“I’d go to the range and feel like I couldn’t hit the ball properly,” Korda recalls. “I’d look at my swing, my scores, and think, ‘Maybe this isn’t for me.’ I was so close to walking away.” Her family, particularly her sister Jessica, became her lifeline. Jessica, who had faced her own challenges on the LPGA Tour, reminded Nelly of her love for the game. “She told me, ‘You don’t have to be perfect. Just keep showing up,’” Korda shares, tears welling up.
The Breaking Point
Korda’s lowest moment came during a rainy week at the 2022 Pelican Women’s Championship. After a string of disappointing results, she missed the cut, her frustration boiling over. Alone in her hotel room, she called her parents, sobbing. “I told them I was done,” she reveals. “I didn’t want to keep failing in front of everyone.” The pressure of living up to her family’s legacy, combined with the physical pain of her recovery and the relentless demands of professional golf, had pushed her to the edge.
Her father, Petr, offered words that would become a turning point: “You’re not failing—you’re learning. If you quit now, you’ll always wonder what could have been.” Those words lingered. Korda took a break, stepping away from the tour to reset. She spent time in Bradenton, Florida, with her family, rediscovering the joy of hitting balls at the range without the weight of expectations. “I started playing for me again, not for anyone else,” she says.
The Comeback
Korda’s return in 2023 was a slow burn, but by 2024, she was unstoppable. Her five straight wins—matching the LPGA record—came at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, Ford Championship, T-Mobile Match Play, Chevron Championship, and Mizuho Americas Open. Each victory was a testament to her resilience, but Korda insists it wasn’t about proving doubters wrong. “It was about proving to myself that I could keep going,” she says on the podcast. Her sixth win of 2024, at the age of 25, made her the first player since 2008 to achieve such a feat in a single season.
Off the course, Korda’s vulnerability has endeared her to fans. Her X post after the Chevron Championship, where she wrote, “Thank you to everyone who believed in me, even when I didn’t,” garnered thousands of replies, with fans sharing their own stories of overcoming doubt. One user wrote, “Nelly’s honesty about almost quitting makes her wins even more inspiring. She’s a warrior.” Another posted, “This is why Nelly’s my favorite—she’s real, not just a golf robot.”
Life Beyond the Fairway
As of July 2025, Korda is preparing for another major season, with the Women’s PGA Championship and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in her sights. But her podcast confession reveals a woman who’s learned to balance ambition with self-compassion. “I used to think a bad round defined me,” she says. “Now I know it’s just one day. I’ll have more bad days, but I’ll have great ones too.”
Korda’s life off the course is equally fulfilling. She’s embraced her role as a mentor to younger players, often seen chatting with rookies at LPGA events. Her partnership with brands like Nike and TaylorMade has made her a global ambassador for women’s golf, and she’s hinted at exploring new ventures, including a potential charity foundation to support young athletes facing mental health challenges. “I want to give back,” she says, “because I know how hard it is to keep going when you’re struggling.”
Her family remains her anchor. Jessica, now a mother and part-time golfer, joins Nelly at select tournaments, while Sebastian, ranked in the ATP Top 50, cheers her on via FaceTime. “We’re a competitive bunch,” Korda laughs, “but we’re each other’s biggest fans.”
Nelly Korda’s confession isn’t just a story about golf—it’s a universal tale of battling self-doubt and finding the strength to persevere. Her willingness to share such a raw moment, when she nearly walked away from her passion, resonates with fans scrolling through X on their phones, many of whom face their own struggles. “Nelly’s story hit me hard,” one user posted. “I’ve wanted to quit my job so many times, but hearing her talk about pushing through gives me hope.”
As Korda prepares for the 2025 season, her legacy is already more than her 14 LPGA titles or her Olympic gold from Tokyo 2020. It’s about showing the world that even champions falter, but what defines them is their courage to keep going. For fans clutching their phones, waiting for the next major, Korda’s emotional revelation is a reminder that behind every swing is a human story—one that’s left them in tears and cheering louder than ever.
