Nelly Korda’s advice against World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul

Let’s play a game: If you could steal a swing from any professional golfer, which golfer would you choose?

Rory McIlroy, whose combination of perfect technique and deadly speed creates a movement that is part art and part violence, like a war painting? Scottie Scheffler, whose endless source of agility and flexibility seems to find perfect positions regardless of the rotation of his shoulders or the angle of his spine? How about Tommy Fleetwood, whose on-course beauty shines with luxurious polish? Or Adam Scott, who has been so thoroughly featured for so long one wonders if he’s ever experienced a truly bad piece?

Now ask yourself: How many of these players have a better swing than Nelly Korda? Is it number two? Is it alone? Nothing?

Korda’s swing is brilliant. The wind is blowing thwack that lifts the ball off the ground like James Taylor picking a D-chord. Inspirational in its beauty, Korda’s throw is his charm – simple, easy, to the point, carefree and unhurried. It’s the epitome of his game in part because it’s the epitome of his character. And it’s Korda’s character that has caught the attention of another participant at this week’s US Women’s Open: Korda’s big threat.

If not for Korda, Jeeno Thitikul could be the best women’s golfer in 2026. We mean – Thitikul sits in second place in the Rolex Rankings, behind only Korda – but also temporarily, because Thitikul is perhaps the only player in the LPGA. the rest than Korda whose success is measured by the absence of rounds in the fight, not their presence.

Korda, 27, and Thitikul, 23, have begun a friendly rivalry at the top of the women’s game — trading the World No. 1 title and no shortage of media coverage in the past year. This week, at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, they are chasing the highest honor in women’s golf: the US Women’s Open title.

Unlike Korda, Thitikul has yet to make it to the majors. But his journey to development has inspired Thitikul to take a closer look at his rival, and on Monday afternoon at the Riv, he revealed the lesson Korda taught him: The Power of Simplicity.

“I think he’s always one of those players—I’m not really [see] he practiced a lot during the tournament,” Thitikul said. “I always see him drive a little bit before his game time. Then [after she was done playing]maybe he just put a few balls and went home.”

To Thitikul, Korda’s approach initially sounded a little backwards: Try a little harder. But then he realized that Korda might be onto something. Some of the World No. 1’s success can be attributed to his sense of balance during the weeks of the tournament, and some of his balance came from his ability to let off the gas.

“I feel like, especially this year he said he changed his mind a little bit,” said Thitikul. “It sounds like he plays in Florida a lot, and then he [goes to events] just playing golf.”

In Thitikul’s eyes, there was something about Korda’s ability to compartmentalize, to spend the weeks of the tournament focusing on more than game preparation or course preparation, that seemed to propel him to success.

“If you do a lot of work and don’t allow your body to like rest and relaxation, especially during the week of the tournament, I think it will be more detrimental than beneficial,” said Thitikul. “It’s very inspiring to see him doing what he’s doing right now.”

Finally, Thitikul said, there is something revealing about this approach from the World No.

“He is a fast player, which is my favorite,” said Thitikul with a laugh. “It’s nice to see a good person, and then we just keep trying to do the same things to get better together.”