Nelly Korda’s victory at the U.S. Women’s Open delivered a breakthrough moment for the LPGA Tour. Her dominant 2026 season, which includes two major championships, has solidified her as the undisputed world number one and given the tour a transcendent star at a time of growth in women’s sport.
Korda’s performance this year has been commanding. After a winless 2025, she has captured four titles in eight starts, including major victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. This run of form has established her at the top of both the Rolex Rankings and the season-long Race to the CME Globe standings. Her success provides the LPGA with a compelling, marketable American figure to attract new and casual fans.
The challenge now falls to the LPGA to capitalize on Korda’s momentum. As Hall of Famer Lydia Ko noted, a dominant figure is vital for attracting attention. “As a tour and even from a fan perspective, yes, it’s great to have somebody like Nelly that was so dominant last year,” Ko said. “Catches a lot of attention, especially with her — in Nelly’s case, being an American player. That catches a lot of different attention. In the case of even if you don’t play golf, you know who Tiger Woods is. Like having that kind of a figure is, yes, very important.”
However, LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler is cautious about focusing on a single player. “If we are reliant on one person, whether it’s a star or a celebrity, to carry the weight of the Tour on their backs, I think we’ve missed the boat,” Kessler stated. He emphasized a broader view, adding, “There’s so much magic happening on the LPGA and we have to bring all of it to life.” The tour aims to build a sustainable following by highlighting its depth of talent alongside its biggest star.
With the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship set for June 25-28, Korda has the opportunity to continue her historic season. A victory there would heighten talk of a Grand Slam, placing even more focus on her and the LPGA Tour. The responsibility now rests with the tour’s leadership to leverage this moment and translate individual brilliance into collective growth for the women’s game.
