Australia holds a special place in the hearts of Jessica and Nelly Korda. It’s where both their father and brother have won tennis championships and where they each won the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. But when Nelly returns in one month to defend her title down under, the country will look much different.
Since November, the country has been ravaged by ongoing wildfires that have taken the lives of two dozen people and millions of animals. Thousands of acres continue to burn out of control and hundreds of homes have been destroyed. To help in the relief efforts of those affected by the fires, a number of LPGA players including the Korda sisters, Marina Alex, Aussie Sarah Kemp and England’s Charlotte Thomas, took to social media to announce they will be making a donation for every birdie or eagle made during upcoming events, including the LPGA Tour’s two-week stint in Australia in February. Kemp shared a heartfelt message in which she revealed her parents nearly lost their home in the fire as it came dangerously close to their backyard and even burned their fence.
The ISPS Handa Vic Open features members of not only the LPGA Tour but also the Ladies European Tour, European Tour and Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour, who are currently developing plans, along with Golf Australia, to contribute to the relief efforts.
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