"You have to be there": When Nelly Korda recalled playing at the world's most exclusive golf course

A couple of years ago, Nelly Korda got the chance to play at one of golf's most prestigious venues. Augusta National is mostly only home to the Masters, which Korda does not compete in as a female golfer.

After she did play at the venue, something not many people in the world have been able to do, she raved about how great it was via the LPGA Tour in 2023.

“Not just the history of the golf course, but how fun every shot was. There is so much undulation in that golf course. It’s not straightforward. You have to play with your shots. There is so much creativity that you actually need to have out there.”

There are things, such as the rapidly changing elevation on the par-five, 575-yard second hole, that some watching on TV don't quite grasp:

“You don’t see that on TV at all. You have to be there to experience the slope of the golf course.”

Playing at Augusta gave the golfer an appreciation for what the golfers do at the Masters Tournament. Korda said playing there showed her just how "good" these players are to make some of the shots they do.

She finished by saying:

“It’s Augusta. It just explains itself right there. So prestigious to even set foot on the golf course. It’s the Masters. It’s the vibe."

The Masters is the only major tournament on the PGA Tour that is at a fixed location every single year, and it's the most exclusive, invite-only golf course in the country. It's also one Korda has a deep appreciation for.

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Nelly Korda praises new Grant Thornton teammate

Last year, Nelly Korda partnered with Tony Finau at the Grant Thornton Invitational. She was set to do so again until Finau withdrew to continue resting his knee after surgery earlier this year.

Nelly Korda at the Grant Thornton Invitational (Image via Imagn)

He was replaced by Daniel Berger, who earned a unique but sincere compliment from Nelly Korda. Via Golf Digest, she said:

“I’ll definitely star you on my PGA Tour app. He hit so many fairways, really great iron play, and on top of that he rolls it really well. He checks all the boxes. He has a new fan in me."

Berger could only thank her and express his surprise, but Korda went on to lavish more praise on him.

“He’s very much a finesse player. We were kind of talking about it on the first day. I never hit my shots really full, and I like to feel it in, and he does the same thing. So I always appreciate that when a player shows his artistic side.”

Berger and Korda finished 13th after shooting a combined -16 over the four rounds.