COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

October 5, 2021

Nelly Korda

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, here with Rolex Rankings No. 1, Nelly Korda. Nelly, it's been a couple weeks since we've seen you. Last time was at the Solheim Cup. How was the rest?

NELLY KORDA: It was good. Kind of had a bit of a shoulder injury so I just rested that. Now it's fine, so hopefully I have a good couple weeks. There is only three events left for me, so hopefully end on a high.

Q. Can you tells us anything about the injury?

NELLY KORDA: Just overuse. Honestly, there were so many weeks, so much travel, so much luggage that I had to get off the carousel that it was just overused and I needed to rest.

Q. Did you put the clubs down for a while?

NELLY KORDA: Oh, yeah, for sure. I probably didn't touch them for about a week and a half and then started to get slowly back into it.

Q. Were you home in Florida during that time?

NELLY KORDA: Yes, L.A. and Florida both.

Q. You said it's been such a long time, and especially all the international travel. Injury aside, how has your body and your mind been putting up with this long stretch of golf we've been playing and being No. 1 and Solheim Cup and Olympics and everything that goes on top of it, not just the physical part of it?

NELLY KORDA: Honestly my body has been actually pretty decent. My mind, I've definitely been very tired just because I have been in contention in big events, and you just go through so much pressure you just get a bit more tired.

And the travel, different time zones, just kind of get to you. I was definitely needing that break, needing to sleep in a little longer, which felt really nice.

Q. Now you're back to work this week. Cognizant Founders Cup. Two years ago when we were in Arizona you and Jess were so close to being in a playoff with Jin Young. That was really your first time coming close to win on U.S. soil, so you've got good memories of the Founders Cup even if it's at a different place?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I did some close on 18 two years ago now. It's crazy. Obviously completely different golf course, weather. Hopefully I can carry it into this event.

But I'm excited. The golf course looks amazing. It's in really great shape and I'm super excited.

Q. Nine holes today; you'll play nine during the pro-am tomorrow. Jin Young was here before you and said it almost feels like a major track out there. What is it like? How does it compare to some of the other events we play? I mean, this it's a good old classic Donald Ross golf course.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, greens are really big, they're very undulated. You're definitely going to have to kind of hit it into the right sections on the green.

And it's long. It's going to play long. I know they've gotten a lot of rain recently so it's soft, too. So it's definitely playing kind of like a major feel just because of the tough greens conditions and the length.

Q. How do you feel it sets up for your game?

NELLY KORDA: Well, I mean --

Q. Nine holes...

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I just played nine, but I really like it. I like that it gives advantage to the longer players. But you never know. You still have to hit really good shots. You still have to make the putts. So it's anyone's game at the end of the day if they're doing all of that.

Q. Cognizant moved the tournament here, but they have done a great job doubling the purse. So much extra going on outside the ropes, today's announcement about the Chevron Championship. It's a really good time to be in women's golf. How is that as a player, as a fan, to the rest of the players when companies like this are really stepping up and putting their support behind the women's game?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's amazing, honestly. The game of golf is moving in an incredible direction. It's kind of crazy to say, but I think in a sense COVID helped the game of golf just because so many people started taking an interest in it. We were one of the first sports that were kind of back on TV, so I think that brought kind of awareness to the game as well.

But they're supporting us every year really well, even with the new Chevron event almost doubling the purse, it's amazing. Obviously moving to Houston so that's a little sad to me because I love Palm Springs, but just grateful that they're taking so much interest in women's golf and supporting us.

Q. With the announcement of the move of the ANA, obviously that's an event for a lot players that was the equivalent of the Masters. What are some of your emotions behind the move? Are you just as excited as you are disappointed?

NELLY KORDA: I'm definitely excited, but I'm obviously disappointed too. I think it's just kind of 50/50 just because I love Palm Springs. I love the host family that I stay with. They're like my second parents. I just love the traditions, jumping into Poppy's Pond, seeing all the winners when you walk up to the 18th green. There is just so much tradition there.

So it is a little sad, but we're also very grateful to Chevron for doubling the purse and just to support us as well.

Q. I just wanted to ask you how you stay so calm and poised out on the course when you're in contention to win? You just always seem to hold yourself really well and don't give any emotions away.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, my face is pretty calm but not inside. I'm definitely feeling all the emotions inside. It's good to have a good teammate on the golf course, good caddie.

But also I think from a young age I've just tried to stay very calm and not to freak out and get too far ahead of myself. Take it one shot at a time and see what happens.

I'm more of a person that tries to stay in the moment than work myself up and get ahead of myself. I've always looked up to Roger Federer and he's always had one emotion in a sense. He's always been really calm on the court, so I kind of tried to take that to golf as well.

Still learning how to do it though. I have not mastered it, trust me.

Q. On that note, on a course like this that has this major championship vibe, what are some thoughts heading into the rest of the week? Brand new golf course, brand new venue, and trying to learn a course that seems a little trickier?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, definitely going to have to be more patient. I haven't played in three weeks as well, so getting back into tournament golf and being under pressure is different as well.

So just telling myself that it's okay to make mistakes. Everyone is going to make mistakes. There is always another hole, another shot that you can take advantage of.

And take to a shot at a time. As boring as it sounds it's usually the best way to do it.