COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

October 9, 2021

Nelly Korda

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Nelly Korda, 3-under 68 today. Birdie on the last. Always nice to end on a positive. How did you find the golf course today?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it was a little bit more difficult. Definitely wasn't as hot. It was a lot windier. Obviously I came out here really early so I've been up for a really long time.

Definitely feeling it a little bit.

Q. You had to play with Jess. I know it isn't something that happens a whole a lot out here. Definitely not the first time, but. Is that enjoyable for you...(indiscernible)?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, for sure. We always said it's like a built-in best buddy. It's always fun, no filter, so that's nice. But, yeah, I enjoy playing with Jess. It's actually crazy, because we legitimately hit the same stuff into every green. I see her whipping out a 7-wood and I'm like, Okay, 7-wood it is. I'm hitting 7-wood, too.

We're like twins out there as well.

Q. Wanted to ask you about this week at Mountain Ridge. Obviously it's new for us, but they've treated us really well so far. (Regarding the hospitality.)

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, super nice, super welcoming, food is amazing. I heard Jess say that, too. I think everyone is going to say the food has been really top notch this week.

The club has been just really welcoming. It's been definitely a five star treatment this week, so that's been really, really nice.

Q. Everybody this week has talked about this being a major championship type venue. Do you enter it with a major championship type mindset?

NELLY KORDA: Well, I've said this multiple times. I try to take the same mindset into every single event. It doesn't matter if it's a major championship or if it's just a regular event. I still go in with the same mindset, because I've just noticed sometimes you put more pressure on yourself when it comes to a major, so I try to approach it the same.

But, yeah, this golf course is super tricky, especially the greens. It's definitely long today. I found it kind of a little short -- I was expecting it to be a little longer the first two days, but today it was definitely a lot longer.

Q. When you have a difficult golf course like this, is it easier to put a three-putt aside? I know you had a couple of them today.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I had two back to back three-putts. That was great. No, you never want to have a three-putt. It's definitely not easier. It's very, very frustrating. I keep making the same mistakes out here.

Again, the main defense out here are the greens, so it's definitely not going to be my last three-putt, that's for sure. I mean, hopefully.

Q. Do you feel like you can go out tomorrow and make a run? You're five back, so...

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, you never know. If everything clicks, then yes. Sometimes you're hitting it so well and you're just not making the putts. Just depends on (indiscernible - plane.)

Q. (Regarding putting speed. )

NELLY KORDA: Speed-wise, well, wasn't very great today, so...

I just try to hit my spot on the green. I just try to roll it over. That's the main thing I look at. Obviously you do a lot of speed drills before so you kind of already know how fast the greens are.

Obviously sometimes they get faster throughout the week if it's really wet, but you kind of get a grasp for that the first couple holes. With putting, I just try to roll it over a spot that I pick on the green.

Q. Heading into a Sunday, are you the kind of player that goes for broke with nothing to lose, or do you stick to your game plan?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I just stick to my game plan. I've have made a couple stupid mistakes here and there throughout my rounds, so hopefully I'll clean it up tomorrow. I like to stick to my game plan and not stray away from it.