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Professional golfer Nelly Korda has revealed the significant logistical challenges of planning her wedding while maintaining a rigorous international competition schedule. The 19-time LPGA winner explained that she and her fiancé, Casey Gunderson, have identified a narrow two-week window in November 2027 to host their nuptials.
Coordinating Professional Calendars
Speaking to Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols following her opening round at The ANNIKA, Korda noted that finding a date requires aligning her own tournament commitments with the demanding ATP Tour schedule of her brother, tennis player Sebastian Korda. “Honestly, if you look at my schedule and my brother’s schedule, I have one month, actually two weeks, that I can get married,” Korda said.
The coordination is further complicated by Sebastian Korda’s ongoing rehabilitation following back surgery in August and his extensive travel requirements. The siblings, who share a close relationship, are both navigating high-pressure careers that leave little room for personal milestones outside of brief off-season breaks.
Balancing Career and Personal Life
Korda’s personal life and professional career are deeply intertwined with her roots in Bradenton, Florida. She and Gunderson attended high school together at IMG Academy before reconnecting later in life. The couple became engaged on a beach in November 2025, shortly after Sebastian announced his engagement to Ivana Nedved, a childhood friend of Nelly.
Choosing to compete at The ANNIKA at Pelican Golf Club serves as a strategic move for Korda, as the venue is located near her home. This proximity allows her to stay in her own residence and host family and friends during the tournament, a luxury that helps mitigate the fatigue of constant travel.
Managing Workload for Longevity
Korda has adopted a more selective approach to her schedule to avoid burnout. Following an eight-week hiatus that included skipping the fall Asian swing, she returned to competition with a bogey-free 63. She explained that her body struggles to handle the 30-event seasons common among tour rookies, noting that she prefers a workload of 18 to 20 events per year to ensure long-term health.
This disciplined approach has led to difficult professional trade-offs. By limiting her 2026 season to 17 official starts, Korda will fall short of the 70-round minimum required to win the Vare Trophy, despite leading the LPGA in scoring average. This decision also delayed her automatic entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame, as she remains one point shy of the 27-point requirement.
Despite these sacrifices, Korda has enjoyed a successful 2026 campaign, securing four victories, $6.2 million in earnings, and her second Rolex Player of the Year Award. She currently sits two shots behind the first-round co-leaders at The ANNIKA, where a victory would provide the final point needed for Hall of Fame induction.
