Junior Golfers Give Nelly Korda a Reason To Smile As She Mourns the Passing of Her Companion of 15 Years
Junior Golfers Give Nelly Korda a Reason To Smile As She Mourns the Passing of Her Companion of 15 Years
Nelly Korda, the world No. 1 in women’s golf, is navigating a period of personal sorrow after the heartbreaking loss of her beloved dog, Scout, who had been her loyal companion for 15 years. The emotional toll was evident as Korda took to social media to share the news, calling Scout her “best friend” and “forever good boy.” Yet, amid the grief, an uplifting moment came from an unexpected source—junior golfers.
Korda was recently attending a youth golf clinic as part of a community outreach initiative tied to the LPGA Tour. What was expected to be a routine engagement turned into a heartwarming experience as the young golfers, many unaware of her personal loss, greeted her with drawings, notes, and questions filled with admiration and innocence. Their energy and enthusiasm provided a momentary but powerful distraction from her grief.
“The kids don’t know what you’re going through—they just see you as their hero,” Korda shared in a quiet moment with staff afterward. “And somehow, that makes their presence even more comforting.”
Several of the children had drawn pictures of Korda with a dog—many of them completely unaware of Scout or his recent passing. The coincidence was both bittersweet and healing. One young girl even gifted Korda a hand-made bracelet “for good luck,” telling her, “You always make us smile, so this is to make you smile too.”
Scout, a golden retriever mix, had been with Korda through the ups and downs of her career—from junior tournaments to her rise to LPGA stardom and even her Olympic gold medal victory in Tokyo. For Korda, Scout was more than a pet—he was family, a constant in a world defined by travel, pressure, and competition.
While the pain of loss will take time to fade, the pure joy and support of the next generation of golfers offered Korda a glimmer of peace in a difficult moment. As she prepares for her next tournament, she’ll do so with Scout in her heart—and the encouragement of young fans reminding her just how much she means to the future of the sport.
