Just last week at the AIG Women’s Open, Nelly Korda was the center of attention for her appearance during practice rounds. The former world No. 1 donned an olive green collared shirt and paired it with camo cargo pants and a cropped windbreaker. While her fashion sense did earn a comparison to PGA Tour veteran Jason Day, famously known for his partnership with Malbon Golf and pushing the boundaries of traditional golf attire, it also attracted criticism from purists in the golf community. However, just a week later, it now appears that her bold appearance was not merely a style statement.

On July 29, when Korda was seen wearing those military pants at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, she combined her dress with her latest footwear release. While many failed to notice the weird combo, Korda’s major career update explains the move. At 27, Nelly is undoubtedly the most recognizable female golfer in the world. And Nike, the leading sneaker brand, has taken a bold step to bank on Korda.

Golf.com broke the news through its Instagram post, revealing Nike’s first signature shoe collaboration with an LPGA star. The post featured the announcement: “@nellykorda 🤝 @nike What do you think about the first look of Nelly Korda’s new Nike Golf shoe coming this holiday season? 👀.” The announcement unveiled the Nike Free Golf ’24 special edition featuring Nelly Korda’s personal touches throughout the design. Charms bracelet from the lateral side, including a smiley face, tennis racket, and cappuccino art. Additionally, her signature graces the insoles, making this a truly personalized masterpiece.

The collaboration represents Nike’s strategic investment in women’s golf after years of focusing primarily on the PGA Tour. Previously, the brand largely ignored the LPGA compared to its men’s golf collections. Only Michelle Wie West had received Jordan Brand PE shoes before this partnership. Therefore, Korda’s collaboration marks a significant shift in corporate priorities for the sportswear giant.

This isn’t just about Nike finally stepping up. Other global sports giants are also expanding their focus. Adidas, long associated with stars like Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia, has now leaned into LPGA talent, partnering with Danielle Kang and Rose Zhang. Meanwhile, TaylorMade—known for its high-profile deals with Rory and Tiger—now works with Charley Hull, a major contender in the LPGA. Even Callaway, traditionally tied to Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm, has signed the LPGA’s Georgia Hall and Yuka Saso. Slowly but surely, the endorsement landscape is shifting, and Nelly’s deal is right at the heart of this revolution.

Nike spent over two years developing this collaboration, showing its commitment to the partnership. The shoes will retail for $155 and launch during the holiday 2025 season. The timing couldn’t be better, as Korda dominated 2024 with seven wins, including five consecutive victories, and held the number one ranking for 17 months.

This news, of course, did not escape public attention, including fellow LPGA stars.

Amanda Balionis and other LPGA stars react to historic announcement

Social media exploded within hours of the announcement. The post racked up 1,417 likes and drew reactions from golf’s biggest names. Jessica Korda kicked off the excitement with her “🔥🔥🔥” reaction, posted just an hour after the announcement. Her sisterly pride was evident in the enthusiastic response.

Amanda Balionis quickly joined the celebration with her signature “🔥🔥” reaction. The CBS reporter’s enthusiastic response carried extra weight given her professional relationship with Korda. She has extensively covered the world number one throughout her career, including emotional interviews about the LPGA’s 75th anniversary and its impact. Consequently, her reaction signals industry recognition of this historic milestone.

Michelle Wie West added “LOVE” to the growing excitement, while Lydia Ko showed her support by liking the post. Meanwhile, Skyler Baldwin focused on the design details, commenting, “It’s the charms for me.” These reactions from established LPGA stars demonstrated the significance of this breakthrough moment for women’s golf.

Even regular fans couldn’t contain their enthusiasm either. One supporter wrote, “Long overdue,” perfectly capturing the sentiment about women’s golf finally getting recognition. Another fan celebrated the partnership dynamic, commenting “Gracing Nelly’s sexy foot ‘swivel’ 👏 Nike & Nelly symbiosis 👟🏌.” Additionally, a fan referenced Nike’s famous slogan, simply writing “just do it😊.”

The collective reaction reflects the broader commercial revolution sweeping women’s golf. Observers had long speculated about a potential partnership based on Korda’s frequent appearances in unreleased Nike footwear. The LPGA total season purse has increased approximately 70% since 2021, while 99 LPGA Tour athletes earned more than $200,000 in prize money in 2023. With Balionis and golf’s elite celebrating this milestone, Korda’s signature line represents the sport’s bright commercial future.