Jessica Korda, the elder sister of Nelly Korda, recently expressed her candid thoughts on the significance of holding the world number one ranking in golf. In an Instagram reel posted on August 18, she acknowledged the prestige of the title but emphasized that it carries minimal practical benefits once tournaments begin. Jessica pointed out that regardless of rank, every player starts each event on equal footing, with no competitive edge granted by their world ranking.
“Being world number one, through 10 through 20, whatever you might be ranked, it doesn’t give you any advantages on our tour,” Jessica said. “The only thing I can think of is that it gets you better tee times in terms of not being super early or super late, you’re somewhere in the middle. But everybody starts at zero every single week. That’s one of the greatest things about golf, that everybody who tees it up has a chance to win.” —Jessica Korda, Professional Golfer
Jessica Korda, who turned professional in 2011, has captured six LPGA Tour titles during her career, including winning the 2012 Women’s Australian Open as a teenager. Her sister Nelly Korda turned pro in 2017 and quickly established herself among the elite, securing two major championships: the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2024 Chevron Championship.
The Korda sisters come from a family with a rich sports heritage. Their father, Petr Korda, was a successful tennis player who won the 1998 Australian Open, and their mother, Regina Rajchrtová, was also a professional tennis player representing Czechoslovakia.
Jeeno Thitikul Reclaims Top Spot as Nelly Korda Relinquishes World No. 1 Ranking
Nelly Korda’s tenure as the leader in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings ended recently when Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul regained the number one position. This marks Thitikul’s second time ascending to the top spot. Korda’s slip followed her performance at the AIG Women’s British Open held at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, where she tied for 36th place.
At the tournament, Nelly Korda entered with just a narrow lead of 0.1861 points over Thitikul. However, she struggled in the final round, shooting a three-over 75—the highest score she recorded during the event. Thitikul, meanwhile, posted a two-over 74 and finished tied for 30th, finishing six places ahead of Korda and enough to surpass her in the rankings.
During her time at No. 1, Korda maintained her position for an impressive 71 consecutive weeks and a total of 108 weeks since first rising to the top in June 2021. After regaining the lead in March 2024, she produced a historic run, winning five consecutive tournaments and claiming seven titles in that year alone. Her most dominant stretch occurred in May 2024 when she led Lilia Vu by more than 6.8 points.
While 2025 has not yet brought Korda a tournament victory, her performance remains consistent. She has made the cut in all 13 events she has participated in and achieved five top-10 finishes, including strong showings at every Major championship so far this year.
The Road Ahead for Nelly Korda Amid Ranking Changes
The transition of the world number one ranking from Nelly Korda back to Jeeno Thitikul highlights the competitive depth within women’s golf. Despite losing the top spot, Korda’s steady play and ability to contend at major tournaments illustrate her resilience and determination to return to the summit. Her sister Jessica’s remarks further underscore that the ranking, while prestigious, does not guarantee success on any given week since every player has an equal opportunity once the tournament starts.
With Korda’s proven track record of excellence and her family’s strong athletic foundation, fans and observers can expect her to continue battling at the highest level. The dynamics of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings remain fluid, promising an exciting contest for supremacy among the sport’s elite players.