Nelly Korda 'inspired' by Scottie Scheffler for her five wins-in-a row bid

American aiming to further boost women’s sport on back of Caitlan Clark raising its profile

Scottie Scheffler isn’t the only dominant force in golf at the moment. In fact, women’s world No 1 Nelly Korda is enjoying an even better run of her results than her equivalent in the men’s game and, of course, now a multiple Masters winner.

Korda heads into this week’s The Chevron Championship in Texas bidding to make it an incredible five wins in a row and achieving that feat would see her emulate one of the game’s greats in Nancy Lopez, who enjoyed her sizzling streak in 1978.

That run of form saw Lopez appear on the front page of Sports Illustrated and, on the back of her title triumphs in the LPGA Drive On Championship, Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, Ford Championship and T-Mobile Match Play so far this season, Korda is doing her bit to put women’s golf back in such a spotlight.

World No 1 Nelly Korda pictured during last year's The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods The Woodlands, Texas. Picture: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

“That's a great question,” the 25-year-old replied to being asked if she could be the person to be the next Sports Illustrated star in the women’s game, having been every bit as impressive as Scheffler has been this season. “I think that it just depends on the opportunities that are brought to you.

“If you're playing good golf and you're competing well and people see how much love you have for the game or how much work you put in day in and day out, I think everything comes with results. If you don't have results you're not going to get opportunities. At the end of the day, everything is about results.”

Victory in this week’s event at The Club at Carlton Woods, where an increased prize fund of $7.9 million is up for grabs, would see Korda join Scheffler on the two majors mark, having landed her first one 2021 Women’s PGA Championship.

“Yeah, I mean, gosh, I don't think anyone can ever say anything bad about Scottie,” she said of the man who has just joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win multiple Masters when holding the position of world No 1. “I love his morals, I love his attitude out there. I just love the way he goes about his business. He inspires so many around him, including myself.

“As he even said, he wants to win every tournament he tees it up in. That's every girl that's out here competing, too. I think that you just have to go about your business. You can get lost in the articles, lost in the expectations, but I think if you just stick to your true self, I feel like you can live in your own bubble and enjoy it a lot more.”

This week’s event is taking place at a time when basketball player Caitlin Clark has raised the profile of women’s sport, with Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley tipping his hat to her during the Masters last week. Asked if she felt any duty or burfen to help the LPGA get that sort of spotlight, Korda said: “No, never any burden when it comes to this. I just hope I show people how much I enjoy being out here week in and week out competing against all the girls, practicing, and hopefully that drives more attention to us.

“Obviously with the run I've been on, maybe there are more eyes on me, but I always am very grateful for this because I know how fast something can be taken away from you. So I hope that people see who I am, my true self and that inspires them, too.”