Nelly Korda revealed the content of her text messages with Tiger Woods when she achieved a feat that even the legendary 15-time major champion couldn’t accomplish.
Nelly Korda reveals Tiger Woods texts during US Women’s Open victory
After claiming the US Women’s Open title, Nelly Korda revealed she had support from an onlooking Tiger Woods.
Nelly Korda had the backing of Tiger Woods as she pursued a feat that even the 15-time major winning icon couldn’t manage – conquering Riviera Country Club.
Korda completed her childhood dream on Sunday as she pipped Charley Hull to the US Women’s Open title in a thrilling denouement to one of the most compelling majors in recent memory.
The world No.1 held her nerve to outlast Hull – the box-office Englishwoman who had charged from nowhere, freewheeling and flag-hunting with rounds of 65 and 67 to pile all the pressure on Korda.
A crucial birdie on the par-5 17th left Korda needing only a par on the final hole to claim the trophy she has desired above all others. In the bowl of the stunning amphitheater around the 18th at Riviera, Korda secured the victory by horseshoeing a putt from no more than 30 inches.
“I knew that I didn’t want to miss it right, so I like maybe had aimed a little bit too far left and pulled it,” she said of her heart-in-mouth crowning moment. “Your heart rate is going. I wish I had my WHOOP like showcase my heart rate, because it was definitely high!”
This is the fourth major win of Korda’s garlanded career and she now has two in a row after dominating at the Chevron Championship in April. At 27, Korda is the youngest American to win four LPGA majors in over 60 years and she ends this season with two chances to win the career grand slam – at the AIG Women’s Open and the Evian Championship. If Korda wins both, she would become only the second golfer after Karrie Webb to earn the distinction of the Super Grand Slam – winning all five majors.
“This week was definitely a grind,” Korda admitted afterwards. “I don’t even feel like I had my B game. I was just grinding out there. And that’s what I guess major championships are all about, right? It doesn’t matter if you have your B or C game, you have to be there mentally.”
It was fitting that a champion of Korda’s caliber won her first US Women’s Open at one of the game’s most famed venues. Riviera is the home of champions such as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead. But Woods has famously never joined the pantheon of greats to win on the Los Angeles layout.
Woods, who has been having rehabilitation treatment following his DUI arrest back following a car crash back in March, has clearly been keeping an eager eye on Korda’s historic week.
“Tiger texted me a couple times and he told me to finish it off today,” Korda beamed in an interview with the Golf Channel.
“I’ve been really lucky with the amount of support I’ve gotten throughout my entire career.”
Basketball legend LeBron James celebrated Korda’s win with a congratulatory post on Instagram: “They amount of DMs I’ve got from him and the entire support for the tour has been amazing,” Korda said.
