Key facts
- Nelly Korda changed golf shoes during the U.S. Women's Open first round.
- The shoes were a custom gift from LeBron James.
- Korda cited the shoes being "a little bit too loose" as a potential issue.
- The shoe change occurred on the 16th hole.
- Korda was 1-over par at the time of the shoe swap.
Nelly Korda, the World No. 1 golfer and a favorite to win the U.S. Women's Open, switched out custom golf shoes gifted to her by LeBron James during her opening round at Riviera Country Club. Korda began the tournament at 1-over par after six holes, experiencing issues that she attributed to the shoes being "a little bit too loose." The swap occurred on the 16th hole, with her trainer bringing her regular Nike golf shoes to the course. Korda had previously shared a picture of the custom shoes on Instagram, thanking James for the gift. James has recently become an avid golf fan. Korda, a three-time major champion, has had a strong season with three wins and three second-place finishes in seven starts. She carded a two-over-par 73 and is six shots behind leader Sei Young Kim after the first round at Riviera Country Club.