PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 13, 2021

Nelly Korda

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Nelly, it seemed like every time Lexi made a birdie out there today you seemed to respond with one of your own, including your eighth birdie of the day here at the last. How closely were you following what Lexi was doing out there?

NELLY KORDA: I heard a couple roars on the front nine but she was two groups behind me so I didn't really get to see. I tried not to look at the scoreboard, as much as I wanted to see how Jess is doing.

I definitely heard some roars at the start. I knew she was dropping some bombs.

Q. When we talked yesterday you felt like hadn't taken advantage of birdie opportunities on the greens. How were you able to do that better today?

NELLY KORDA: A little better today. Still I've been hitting it actually really close this week, giving myself a lot of opportunities. Capitalized a little bit more today, but hopefully -- it's going to take a lot probably to catch Lexi.

I think she's playing really well. She's rolling the ball -- I think we're tied now. Not sure. But it's going to probably take a low one tomorrow.

Q. Yeah, it's shaping up for a nice battle between you two for the title round. What will be your strategy?

NELLY KORDA: Just stay aggressive, as I have been. I've been hitting it really well and been giving myself some good looks, so I'm just going to take the same today into tomorrow.

Q. We are joined by Nelly Korda after a 7-under par 63 in the third round of the Pelican Women's Championship. Eight birdies on the scorecard, including a bogey-free back nine with four there. How did you get into the groove and then kind of finish extra strong?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I was hitting it better off the tee today and just gave myself some really good looks. I was stuffing it on the back nine. I'm pretty sure -- I mean, I had -- I missed probably a 10-footer on No. 10 and then I made 11, missed 12 -- I was pretty close there -- and then missed 13 as well.

So I gave myself some really good looks, so at least going in the right direction. Yesterday I was doing the same thing. I just wasn't making as much. Today I think I just made a little bit more.

Q. If my memory serves, you were here watching be your sister last year.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. What was your first impression of this golf course?

NELLY KORDA: I've played it a couple times. I mean, I'm just like an hour fifteen away, so last year I think the golf course was still kind of settling in. The greens were a lot firmer.

I think the greens are a lot more receptive this year, especially -- I was on I think No. 5 when we got that 30-minute rain delay, and I think that made the greens a lot softer because it poured. I think it's a little bit different golf course, because I was told that you couldn't hold No. 8 last year, and couple of other holes.

But I feel like you can kind of bomb it, bomb away off the tee, and then give yourself a good look at birdie. You still have to hit it decently straight. Bunkers are in play and the pine straw is really thick. I've heard a couple people have almost lost their balls in the pine straw.

So, I mean, I like it. I like that you can kind of -- you don't have to think as much in a sense.

Q. In terms of going with Lexi head-to-head, do you remember a time where you've done that in the final group?

NELLY KORDA: No, I don't think Lexi and I have ever played in a final group together. That will be a new one.

Q. She obviously swings out of her shoes.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, exactly.

Q. And you don't. I guess contrast your games for me, and will you try to swing a little harder?

NELLY KORDA: No. I mean, I feel like in distance we're pretty close. I do definitely have another gear, and I don't like to whip that out because that gear, I never know if it's going to go right or left.

That's why I like to keep it level pretty much. But I mean, she's playing well. I heard she's putting really well, too. As I said, I think it's going to take probably a low one to catch her. I don't know what she's on the right now.

Q. Same as you.

NELLY KORDA: Going to take a low one.

Q. Are you following your brother's progress?

NELLY KORDA: No, but I know he's on court right now, so hopefully it's going in his direction. Yeah.

Q. Are you young enough still to have looked up to Lexi as you turned from amateur to professional?

NELLY KORDA: So I knew Lexi because I think I met her at Curtis Cup when Jess played with her. They were was both really young. And even U.S. Open I remember them playing a lot of practice rounds together because they were like the young up-and-coming Americans.

So they played -- I think in their first U.S. Open they played together. So I don't know. I definitely watched her on TV because I watched a lot wanting to see Jess.

But, yeah, I mean, what she's done in her career is amazing, especially at such a young age. You would think she's so much older than she is. It's kind of like Lydia. I had to double take. Wait, you're only that old? Only a year and a half or two years older than me? Like what?

But they've had an amazing career at such a young age. In a sense, yes, but I also kind of grew up around her, being around her with Jess.

Same as Jess.

Q. Absolutely.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. Hypotheticals are part of sports. With a win tomorrow you would become the most decorated American in terms of wins in a season since Stacy Lewis in 2012. When you hear that and kind of the years that Stacy really had an amazing string, when you hear that, what do you think?

NELLY KORDA: I mean, huge honor honestly just to be mentioned alongside Stacy and alongside the greats. That's something you work for kind of like your entire life. To be recognized for how much work you've put into it is a really good feeling.

I've really gotten to know Stacy pretty well over the past two years since she kind of in a sense was vice captain two years ago at Solheim and pod leader this year.

So Stacy, I love Stacy. Yeah, I guess just be a huge honor to be mentioned alongside her.

Q. When you look at the Top 4 on the leaderboard, last one from me, you see yourself, Lexi, Jennifer Kupcho, Christina Kim, four Americans, three young bucks and the Old Betty, as she called herself yesterday. What is it like to have put together the year you have had and kind of almost a resurgence of Americans near the top?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, I said it -- you have to play so well to even just make the Olympic team. So I was telling Jess, I was like, Just the fact that we made it, you know, means that we have had an amazing year.

American golf like is trending in such a good direction. We have so many young up-and-coming girls representing the USA. Christina is still playing so well. I mean, it was a blast playing with her today.

I think American golf is just kind of trending in the right direction.

Q. Are you still eating your mom's cooking this week?

NELLY KORDA: No. Actually, she did give me a bar on No. 8. She was like, Here, eat. I was like, Okay. Okay, mommy. (Laughter.)