Nelly Korda has won major championships and reached the top of women’s golf, but one familiar frustration still bothers her: hitting a perfectly placed drive only to find the ball sitting inside a divot. The world-class golfer believes that situation deserves a second look.
During an appearance on the Hey Jonas! podcast, Korda identified the golf rule she would break if she could get away with it. Her answer was not about gaining extra distance or changing how penalties work. She wants relief when a ball lands in a divot in the fairway.
Korda also offered practical advice for handling the difficult shot, explaining how golfers can adjust their stance and swing to improve contact. Her comments have renewed a long-running debate about fairness, course conditions and whether golfers should be penalized for another player’s damaged turf.
The rule that frustrates Nelly Korda
Korda’s preferred rule change concerns divots in the fairway. A golfer can hit a strong drive down the middle, only to discover that the ball has settled into a patch of disturbed grass left by an earlier shot.
Under the standard Rules of Golf, players generally must play the ball as it lies in the fairway. A divot does not automatically qualify for free relief, even when it makes the next shot considerably more difficult.
Korda explained that she would like to avoid that situation. Her position reflects a common complaint among golfers: a shot that finds the fairway can still leave a player with an awkward lie through no fault of their own.
Why a fairway divot can feel unfair
A fairway is generally considered a desirable place to land a tee shot. The grass is usually shorter than the rough, allowing golfers to make cleaner contact and control their approach shots more effectively.
A ball resting inside a divot can change that expectation. The damaged turf may interfere with contact, making it harder to launch the ball cleanly or predict its trajectory and distance.
That is why the issue has remained a source of debate among recreational players and professionals. Golfers can execute a good drive and still face a tougher second shot because of damage created by someone who played the hole earlier.
What Korda recommends when the ball lands in a divot
Although Korda dislikes the rule, she does not treat the shot as impossible. On the podcast, she explained that hitting from a fairway divot requires a specific technique and a willingness to adapt to the lie.
Her advice includes moving the ball slightly farther back in the stance and gripping down on the club. Those adjustments can help golfers focus on striking the ball before the clubhead reaches the ground.
Korda also compared the shot to a bunker shot, emphasizing a steeper strike and clean contact. The goal is to manage the difficult lie rather than expect the ball to behave as it would from undamaged fairway grass.
Why golfers cannot normally move the ball
The Rules of Golf are built around the principle that players should play the ball as it lies and the course as they find it. That principle helps keep competition consistent, regardless of whether a lie is convenient.
The United States Golf Association explains that the fairway and rough are part of the general area of the course. Free relief is available in certain circumstances, such as interference from an abnormal course condition, but an ordinary divot is not automatically covered.
There are exceptions for specific situations, including applicable local rules and qualifying ground-under-repair conditions. However, players cannot simply move a ball out of a divot because they dislike the lie. Doing so without an authorized procedure can result in a penalty.
The debate over changing the divot rule
Supporters of relief argue that a golfer should not be disadvantaged after successfully finding the fairway. Allowing a free drop could make the result of a well-struck tee shot more predictable and reduce the influence of damage caused by other players.
However, introducing relief would create practical questions. Officials would need a consistent way to decide what counts as a divot, how damaged the turf must be and whether the ball is genuinely affected by that damage.
Those decisions could also lead to disagreements during competition. A rule intended to make the game fairer could create new judgment calls for players and officials, particularly when a ball rests near the edge of a damaged patch.
Korda’s advice reflects her experience at the highest level
Korda’s comments carry weight because she has competed successfully under the same rules she questions. The American joined the LPGA Tour in 2017 and has developed into one of its leading players through consistent performances across regular events and major championships.
Her career includes Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and multiple major titles. In 2026, she won both The Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, adding to her achievements on the LPGA Tour.
Even elite players must adjust when conditions do not favor them. Korda’s advice demonstrates that course management is not simply about hitting the ideal shot; it also involves adapting quickly when the ball comes to rest in an awkward position.
Korda’s comments offer a lesson for everyday golfers
Most recreational golfers will recognize the frustration Korda described. Finding the fairway feels like a reward for a good drive, so discovering the ball in a divot can make the next shot feel unfairly difficult.
Her technique offers a practical alternative to dwelling on the rule. Moving the ball back slightly, gripping down, and concentrating on clean contact can help players handle the lie rather than attempt a normal fairway shot.
Golfers should still follow the official rules during competition and avoid moving the ball without permission. Until the rules change, learning to manage a divot remains the practical option, even for players who agree with Korda’s criticism.
Fun fact: Nelly Korda first competed in the U.S. Women’s Open at age 14 in 2013—then won the championship 13 years later for her fourth major title.
TL;DR
- Nelly Korda said she would break the rule requiring golfers to play from a fairway divot if she could get away with it.
- Under the standard Rules of Golf, a divot does not automatically entitle a player to free relief.
- Korda recommends moving the ball back in the stance, gripping down and focusing on striking the ball first.
- The debate centers on fairness versus consistent rule enforcement.
- Korda won The Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open in 2026.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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