Full Breakdown
Nelly Korda’s Opening Round at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open: A Troubled Start and a Mid-Round Shoe Swap
6/5/2026, 2:13:19 PM
Background & Stakes
The 2026 U.S. Women’s Open opened at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. World No. 1 Nelly Korda entered as the clear favorite, having captured three tour victories this season—including the Chevron Championship—and seeking her first U.S. Women’s Open title. The tournament’s first round began on Thursday morning, with Korda teeing off on the 10th hole.
Round-One Performance at Riviera
Korda posted a 2-over 73, placing her outside the top 50 and seven strokes behind early leader Jennifer Kupcho (-1). She opened with a birdie on the 11th, followed by bogeys on the 12th and 13th. A par on the 16th after a shoe change capped a round in which she saved pars on several holes but missed short birdie putts on 14-17. Her front-nine score was +1; the back nine added another stroke.
Mid-Round Shoe Swap and Its Aftermath
Before the tournament, Korda received a custom pair of Nike Victory Pro 4 shoes from LeBron James, featuring his crown logo. She began the round wearing the gift but found the fit “a little too loose.” Sources differ on when she changed: some report a swap after the fifth hole, others after the sixth, while one account notes a change on the 16th. In each case, her trainer retrieved her regular Nike shoes from the locker room, and Korda finished the round in the familiar pair.
Korda’s Own Assessment of the Round
Korda described the round as “not a great day” and said she “hit it really poorly off the tee.” She added that she has been “feeling really stuck in my swing” and that the same issue appeared at the Queen City Championship in Cincinnati. Despite extensive range work, she “can’t seem to really figure it out.” The golfer indicated she will return to the range before the next round.
Criticism & Alternative Explanations
Commentary from Fox News suggested the custom shoes may have contributed to swing difficulties, implying equipment discomfort as a factor in her performance. Other analysts emphasized the driver’s tendency to pull right on holes 2-3 as a primary cause, noting that Korda herself identified driver issues early in the round.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Timing of shoe swap: reports cite holes 5, 6, and 16 as the moment of change.
- Shoe description: some sources label the gift as “custom Nike Victory Pro 4,” while others refer to it generically as “custom Nike.”
- Cause of poor play: equipment discomfort versus swing mechanics remain debated, with no definitive attribution in the available reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I felt like I had a little too much room,” — Nelly Korda, player
- “I just felt more comfortable in these," she said.” — Nelly Korda, player
- “Honestly, just hit it really poorly off the tee,” — Nelly Korda, player
- “I've just been feeling really stuck in my swing and not being able to release it.” — Nelly Korda, player
What’s Next for Korda
Korda announced she will “go to the range” to address swing issues before the second round. With a six-stroke deficit to the leader, she must improve both driving accuracy and short-game execution to remain in contention for the major title and a potential second Grand Slam event this season.
