Golf May 01, 2026

Can Nelly Korda be Tiger Woods-like force in women's golf? - 'She has the ability to be dominant', says Catriona Matthew

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Can Nelly Korda be Tiger Woods-like force in women's golf? - 'She has the ability to be dominant', says Catriona Matthew

Nelly Korda "has the ability to be dominant" in women's golf after clinching a third major title, says Catriona Matthew.

Korda returned to world No 1 as she produced a dominant wire-to-wire win at the Chevron Championship, equalling the tournament record-low 54-hole score en route to a five-shot victory.

It was the sort of dominant display that was routine during Tiger Woods' time at the top of the men's game, and Matthew, Women's British Open winner in 2009, believes the women's game would benefit from a similar figurehead.

"For me, in any sport, to have one dominant player grabs the interest of the general public," Matthew told Your Site News. "We've seen in the men's game, we've had Tiger Woods, and Scottie Scheffler in the last few years.

"If Scottie is playing, I tune in and watch to see if he's going to do what he did last year.

"In the women's game, obviously, we've had [10-time major winner] Annika Sorenstam, [seven-time] Karrie Webb and [five-time] Se-ri Pak. But laterally, there's only been a few of them."

With Korda now getting to three titles, adding a second Chevron success to her 2024 win and 2021 US Women's Open, could she be the next to dominate in the women's game?

"Golf-wise, absolutely," Matthew said. "I mean her golf game: she's tall, hits it a long way and her swing is just about perfect.

"If she can just keep the putter going, then she has the ability to be dominant.

"She's got the poise and seems to have the mental toughness to do it."

Dame Laura Davies was also full of praise for Korda when speaking on the Your Site Golf Podcast, the four-time major winner saying the 27-year-old American has the "complete game".

"Cruise control," Davies said of Korda's emphatic victory at the Chevron.

"I'm not going to compare her to Tiger, because there is no comparison, but when a player like that hits the front as she did, you just can't see her backing up.

"And she didn't. She got better and better and won by a country mile.

"Nelly, for me, has the complete game when she's on. I've always said this: if she plays her best, none of them can beat her."

Davies added: "Nelly's probably got, if she wants, another five to 10 years at the very top. I'm not sure anyone will ever reach Annika's number of wins and majors, but she can certainly pull up alongside Carrie Webb, Se-ri Pak.

"She's definitely got it all there. At the moment, her game is at a slightly different level. She seems to have another gear to go to."

Tags:

golf news

Share this article

Related Posts

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

The world's best disabled golfer, Kipp Popert, has made his debut appearance on the DP World Tour, teeing up at the Austrian Alpine Open after the G4D...

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

The world's best disabled golfer, Kipp Popert, has made his debut appearance on the DP World Tour, teeing up at the Austrian Alpine Open after the G4D...

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau has admitted to putting extra pressure on himself to perform in the majors and insisted he is ‘giving all he can’ to help the LIV Go...

Charles Schwab Challenge: Field, format, prize money as Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark withdraw from PGA Tour event

Charles Schwab Challenge: Field, format, prize money as Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark withdraw from PGA Tour event

Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from this week's Charles Schwab Challenge, meaning he won't be able to qualify for next week's Signature Event at the Memo...

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Wyndham Clark comes from behind to beat Si Woo Kim and Scottie Scheffler to win fourth PGA Tour event

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Wyndham Clark comes from behind to beat Si Woo Kim and Scottie Scheffler to win fourth PGA Tour event

Wyndham Clark came from two shots behind to end a two-year wait to win a PGA Tour event at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sunday, outlasting both Si Woo K...

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau has admitted to putting extra pressure on himself to perform in the majors and insisted he is ‘giving all he can’ to help the LIV Go...