“I think Nelly does have a responsibility. It’s saying yes. Continuing to play great golf, though, is number 1. That’s what helps our tour the most… She also, I would say, do as much extra stuff as you can for us,” Stacy Lewis explained vehemently of Nelly Korda when things got hard for the LPGA last season. Korda was on a winning spree last year, not this year, though. But she remains an enigmatic presence in the golf world. And the request from the LPGA Community remains the same. To be more active off the course and to help improve the overall product that the LPGA has to offer. With the new change in management, the request will likely be more pronounced and repetitive as time goes by. After all, she is the world No. 1.
Speaking on the 5 Clubs podcast on the Golf Channel, golf reporter Beth Ann Nichols echoed Stacy Lewis’s sentiments from last year. Nichols explained that Korda is more focused on golf, which defines her role in the space. “She doesn’t want to be the center of attention for anything other than her golf. I think she is trying to figure out how to do it her way because it is extremely important to her that she stays true to who she is,” Nichlos explained.
This season, Korda is struggling on the course by her standards. She is yet to win a title but has registered 3 top 10 finishes in 7 starts on the Tour. While she needs to focus on the golf, the need of the hour will be for her role to expand greatly, considering her success from last year. The real onus will be on her to provide a strict balance that can work well for both the LPGA and her accomplishments. “At the same time, I think it is important for her to always have the bigger picture of the LPGA in the back of her mind,” Nichols professed.
Right now, the need of the hour is even more pronounced. Craig Kessler is taking over the reins from interim commissioner Liz Moore and will be succeeding Mollie Marcoux-Samaan as the 10th LPGA Commissioner. Kessler does have a great resume, having spent time with the PGA of America, but he will need all hands on deck if the LPGA needs to keep growing from strength to strength. That’s where Nelly Korda comes in. “I hope that the new commissioner, Craig Kessler, is able to establish a rapport with her. So that if the Tour needs something, he can pick up the phone and call Nelly Korda,” the Golfweek senior writer further added.
Craig Kessler will need as much help as possible in his bid to improve the LPGA product that is on offer. After all, his appointment was done with that in mind.
New commissioner aims to take Nelly Korda and the LPGA to new heights
“There was not one person who met Craig in this process that wasn’t wowed,” the President of the LPGA Tour, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, explained what went behind the hiring of the new commissioner. The Harvard alum comes into his new position with a great deal of experience, having worked as the chief operating officer of the PGA of America for more than two years. He was even a candidate to be the CEO at one point, but the role of the LPGA Commissioner will be his opportunity to create a lasting legacy.
“This isn’t just about leading a sports organization — it’s about redefining what’s possible. This role is deeply personal to me — not just as a professional opportunity, but as a chance to make a difference in the world and create new opportunities for others.” Kessler stated about his appointment. The 10th Commissioner of the LPGA will officially take over the role from July 15, but he will have some plans and ideas ready even before then. That is what the fans and the stakeholders of the LPGA will be banking on.
Do you think Craig Kessler can help in activating Nelly Korda’s presence outside of the golf course and use it to fuel an improved product?
