Prove herself? Nelly Korda shared what she’s chasing at AIG Women’s Open

It’s an odd sensation to feel the need to prove oneself. Like there’s a pit in your soul that can only be filled by demonstrating your abilities or intellect to highlight your worth — to show that what you’ve always believed or the path you’ve walked was the right one.

For those blessed with world-class talent — the Rory McIlroys, Scottie Schefflers and Nelly Kordas — the need to prove anything to anyone, save themselves, dissipated long ago. Their illustrious resumes stand as proof — they have not squandered their gifts.

So when Korda, the World No. 1, sat for her pre-tournament press conference at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Portcawl on Tuesday and was asked if it was “important to be a global golfer” at the end of her career (i.e., someone who wins everywhere), her answer was revealing.

“I feel like I don’t really have anything more to prove to people ever,” Korda said. “For me, it’s just, I’m passionate about the game. I love the game. I love playing in these kind of conditions, testing my game, and getting to play against the best players in the world. Having something to prove to myself, I don’t think I really need to do that. For me, it’s just enjoying it and being in the heat of the battle.

“I feel like, yeah, of course I want to accomplish more. There are goals that I have, goals that I set for myself. To make myself feel whole about winning in every country that I play in, that’s definitely not my goal. My goal is to prepare the best that I can, enjoy myself and hopefully be in contention. And then kind of enjoy the ride because, as many highs as I’ve had, I’ve had a lot of lows too with this sport, but I still come back and I still want to experience those highs in all the different circumstances, different golf courses, different conditions. And just continue to grow my love for the game.”

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On the surface, of course, Korda is right. She has nothing left to prove. She’s the best golfer of her generation. She’s two-thirds of the way to the Hall of Fame. She’s won two majors and an Olympic gold medal. That’s all signed, sealed and delivered.

But it should be noted that wasn’t the question. The question posed was merely about a personal desire to win around the world. Much in the way that McIlroy has talked about the importance of winning certain tournaments at specific venues. But it’s fair to wonder if Korda, the straw that stirs the women’s golf drink, someone with the talent to be an all-time great, wants the same. Shouldn’t we want that for her? To try to will her to greater heights? To ask more of her, just as we did of McIlroy during his 10-year major drought or of Scheffler before he won a major outside of Augusta National?

A year ago, Korda went on an historic heater that saw her win six times in seven starts, including a major championship. From January through mid-May, a total of six players finished better than Korda in any event she played. She was peaking heading into the summer, with a chance to put together a legendary major season. But then came the “10” on her third hole of the U.S. Women’s Open, which led to a missed cut. Next, she fired a second-round 81 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to miss the cut there as well. She seemed to have the Women’s Open at St. Andrews in her grasp before a back-nine double bogey allowed Lydia Ko to claim the title.

Korda hasn’t won this year. She still wows with her power and frustrates with an inconsistent putter. She’s first in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, first in birdie percentage and third in Strokes Gained: Total. She finished runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open but has otherwise not been a true weekend factor in majors this year. Her golf has been good but a tick below her lofty standards. And she knows it. Korda is acutely aware that this week at Royal Porthcawl in Wales is her last chance to make this season worthy of remembrance — to keep it from being lost year in the major department.

Just as she said — Korda has nothing left to prove, and yet this week is a perfect opportunity to do just that. Not to validate something but to cement it. As McIlroy recently noted as he climbed out of his post-Masters malaise, certain places and tournaments call to the greats. Korda feels destined to become a U.S. Women’s Open champion. She would have been a deserving champion last year at St. Andrews. Those scars would make a victory in Wales all the more meaningful. It would be a title fitting of her standing in the game. A win that would deliver a message about what the view will be when all she can do is look back.

With one revealing answer on Tuesday, Korda told us something. What happens next will say even more.