Nelly Korda’s Shoe Swap at U.S. Women’s Open

LeBron James recently gifted Nelly Korda with a custom pair of golf shoes for the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club. Despite this generous gesture, the World No. 1 golfer found the shoes lacking during her initial rounds.

Korda commenced her opening round on Thursday with a mix of results. Starting on the back nine, she parred the challenging par-4 10th hole and then birdied the 11th. However, two consecutive bogeys followed. By the sixth hole, sitting at 1-over par, Korda decided to switch back to her usual Nike golf shoes, as the custom pair felt too loose.

Golf Channel’s Amy Rodgers reported from Riviera that the looseness of the custom shoes might have affected Korda’s swing. Korda’s trainer retrieved her regular shoes and facilitated the swap on the 16th hole, allowing Korda to make a par there and complete the turn with a score of 1-over par.

Before the event, Korda had expressed gratitude to James for the custom shoes on Instagram, and James reciprocated by wishing her well in the major championships.

LeBron James has increasingly become a golf enthusiast, sharing his passion through videos and mentions during NBA postgame conferences.

Nelly Korda entered the tournament as a strong contender for her first U.S. Women’s Open win. Having secured three victories and three runner-up finishes in 2026, her performance at Riviera is highly anticipated.