Nelly Korda: "I Also Joined the Nike Team"

New Sponsorship Contract 'Open' on Koda SNS

Nelly Korda is swinging while wearing Nike apparel, her new sponsor. Photo by Nelly Korda Instagram

World No. 2 Nelly Korda (USA) has joined the Nike team.

On the 15th (local time), Korda posted on her social media, "JUST DID IT! Super excited to join the Swoosh fam!" along with two photos of her taking shots wearing Nike apparel. Korda will be joining the same team as golf legend Tiger Woods (USA), World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and the "PGA rising star" Kim Joo-hyung.

The American magazine Sports Illustrated (SI) reported, "This deal is expected to be the highest ever in Nike's history of sponsoring women's golf," adding, "Korda, who is regarded as the Tiger Woods of women's golf, is following the same path as Woods." Korda debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2017 and was sponsored by the Hanwha Group until last year. Over six years, she has won a total of eight tournaments, including one major championship. She has also reached World No. 1 and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Hanwha engaged in contract renewal negotiations for about two months after last season but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. Korda will compete wearing the Nike logo at the LPGA Tour 2023 season opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (total prize money $1.5 million), held on the 19th in Orlando, Florida.