Just days after Nelly Korda posted pictures on her Instagram account posing scantily-clad on the beach wearing a sleek black swimsuit, the women’s World No. 1 has hit the headlines for her golfing achievements this year. Was the timing deliberate or unfortunate? It’s hard to say.

The 26-year-old American was named LPGA Player of the Year, at the conclusion of the TOTO Japan Classic on November 3, 2024, capping off what some would describe as one of the most memorable individual seasons ever seen in women’s golf.

Korda made history with the hottest start to any golf season ever made on the LPGA Tour, by winning five out of her first six events in 2024, namely the LPGA Drive On Championship, the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship, the Ford Championship presented by KCC, the T-Mobile Match Play Championship presented by MGM Rewards and The Chevron Championship, the second major title of her career. 

But the eyes of the world were already on the attractive young American sportswoman, as just hours before she had shared a few behind-the-scenes pictures of herself posing in a sophisticated, off the shoulder, black swimsuit for Sports Illustrated magazine. Kneeling on the water’s edge in her swimsuit, Korda is showing off just how athletic and slender her physique is. The pictures will form part of Sport Illustrated’s famous swimsuit issue, published in May 2025, and Korda is just one of a host of famous athlete’s who will all appear together wearing only swim wear in that issue.

The sceptics will argue that Korda’s decision to take part in the photoshoot takes the shine off of her actual golfing achievements this year.  Others will say that being a part of a famous sports magazine’s cover swimwear issue is merely showing her huge fan base just how toned and athletic she is. You decide. 

MORE: Find out all about Nelly Korda’s remarkable start to her 2024 golfing season here