Nelly Korda is entering this week's 2026 Chevron Championship armed with strong form and a clear perspective on who helped shape her path to the top of the world golf rankings.
Ahead of the LPGA's first major of the season, Korda first pointed to her sister, Jessica Korda, as her earliest role model.
“My sister. Always," Korda said. “Yeah, I looked up to her from a really young age. I admired her. I wanted to be here since she joined the tour in 2011."
Korda also highlighted Tiger Woods as a defining influence on her generation.
“Obviously Tiger Woods, because my sister always says like, our generation — that’s kind of like Tiger’s kids," she said. “We watched him dominate the game at that time. I would say those two in golf, yeah.”
Her inspirations additionally extend beyond the green. Korda has previously praised tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, admiring Federer's composure and Nadal's competitive intensity — traits that mirror her own approach on the course.
Heading into the Chevron Championship, Korda also reflected on the realities of competing at the highest level and how quickly emotions can become public. She cited US tennis star Coco Gauff's 2026 Australian Open racket-smashing incident as an example of how closely athletes are watched.
"The thing that's different about athletes versus someone that's not is sometimes we're under a microscope, so you see everything," Korda said. “Coco Gauff, she was slamming her tennis racket. She thought it was in private, and you have video cameras there."
Korda continues to draw inspiration from athletes who came before her, while also navigating expectations that come with being one of the sport's top players.
How to Watch Nelly Korda at the 2026 Chevron Championship
As the Houston tournament gets underway, Korda enters the week with refreshed perspective and momentum, looking to secure her third LPGA major title.
The Chevron Championship runs through Sunday, April 26th, with live coverage on The Golf Channel.
