It’s often said that champions are made when no one is watching, but in golf, true greatness comes from practicing in the toughest conditions. While most players would avoid bad weather, some elite athletes use it as an opportunity to prepare for the most challenging tournament scenarios.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda demonstrated this mindset when she posted a video that stunned the golf world. In the clip, shared on her Instagram on March 6, she’s seen hitting tee shots in heavy rain and strong winds. She jokingly captioned it, “This is some British Open weather,” unfazed by conditions that would drive most golfers indoors.
For Korda, practicing in extreme weather isn’t just about proving a point — it’s part of her strategic preparation. Throughout her career, she’s focused on developing creative shot-making skills, especially for tournaments like the British Open. She’s previously said that no matter how much a player prepares, weather often becomes the deciding factor. During practice rounds at St. Andrews, she deliberately played in all types of weather to better understand the course’s challenges.
View this post on Instagram
This commitment to preparing for any situation reflects Korda’s meticulous work ethic. Her practice routines are carefully structured, from starting warm-ups exactly 65 minutes before tee time to finishing 18 holes in just two hours to simulate competitive focus. Her coach, Jamie Mulligan, often jokes about her habit of overanalyzing her game, something he calls “Nelly things.”
Korda’s dominance has been so overwhelming that other players have acknowledged how difficult it is to catch her. LPGA pro Hannah Green recently admitted she’s more focused on becoming World No. 2, saying that with Korda’s string of victories, reaching the top spot would require matching her incredible win count. The gap between Korda and the second-ranked player is reportedly larger than the gap between second and 45th, showing just how far ahead she is.
Korda’s video sparked a mix of admiration and humor across the golf world. PGA Tour star Justin Thomas commented in disbelief, telling her to go inside and reminding her that professional golfers play for a living, not in storms. Her sister, Jessica Korda, chimed in with a simple message urging her to go home. Fans, however, largely praised her work ethic, with many pointing out that her willingness to train in any condition is exactly why she’s winning so often. Some even compared her relentless drive to Kobe Bryant’s legendary “mamba mentality.”
The comments were filled with both encouragement and awe, with fans celebrating her commitment and calling her an inspiration. This reputation for never making excuses and always putting in the work has helped solidify her as one of the most intimidating forces on the LPGA Tour, where her average ranking points create a gap so wide it’s hard for anyone to come close.