By: Max Bechtoldt
When choosing a player as the ideal driver of the golf ball, there’s a lot of factors to consider. How far the player hits it, how straight they hit it and how consistently they hit it well all play in. That’s why I am taking Nelly Korda’s ability with the driver over any other LPGA Tour player.
While players like Lexi Thompson and Yuka Saso hit the ball further than anyone else, they generally rank below 100 when it comes to the driving accuracy stats. Korda combines fantastic distance, she was No. 7 in driving distance on tour in 2021, with solid accuracy, No. 44 in driving accuracy that season.
It wasn’t just in Korda’s dominant 2021 that she was this great with the driver, she always has been. In 2023 she ranked No. 6 in strokes gained driving. The year before, she ranked No. 1. The gap was large between her and No. 2 A Lim Kim.
Keep in mind, in 2022 and 2023 Korda has dealt with back and arm injuries and is still putting up these kinds of driver stats. Through just two LPGA events in 2024, Korda is No. 3 in strokes gained driving, and is the only one in the top seven to play in both events.
If I need an LPGA player to hit a great drive for me, there’s no other choice than Nelly Korda.
