THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 2, 2022

Jessica Korda

Mission Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Great round of 67 today. It was a quiet start for you back on Thursday, but fast forward a couple days and you're just a couple strokes off the lead. How comfortable are you feeling out there right now?

JESSICA KORDA: Yeah, it was great. There is barely any wind, so definitely staying aggressive was really important.

They're baking out these greens, so it's really tough and you got to keep figuring out where to land it and how much it might roll out.

It's playing a pretty big factor, especially on some of these pins.

Q. On your front nine you had two stretches of two birdies in a row, 1 and 2 and then 7 and 8. Can you tell us about those birdies, what happened on those two streaks?

JESSICA KORDA: Not much. Just hit it kind of close. Two-putted 2, which was nice. Actually left to right in the heart which always stinks, but birdie nonetheless.

That was really nice. I don't know how my ball stayed up on the top shelf on 8. That's such a tough pin with how firm it is today. I guess I just read it really nicely and was able to drop it in there.

Yeah, it's definitely playing tough.

Q. Two more birdies on your back nine with just one bogey. I'm looking, and you only missed two greens all day. Are you feeling dialed in with the short irons there?

JESSICA KORDA: I'm just trying keep it somewhere in the middle of the green and make a putt. Like I said, it's getting really firm, so being smart about where you're landing is pretty key.

Q. Given these conditions how far back is too far back?

JESSICA KORDA: We'll see. I don't know. I don't know what it's going to play like tomorrow. We'll see I guess. I don't know what Jen is going to finish at.

I was going on 17 and she was only on 11, so we'll see what the lead is at the end of the day, but you never know out here.

Q. When you're chasing do you pick a number or do you just go out and try to hit each shot?

JESSICA KORDA: It's a major so you know the girls up front are going to be nervous, and we're kind of chasing them down and they know that.

You always just kind of got to think that you have a chance no matter, and that's kind of the mentality you got to go in there with.

Q. You've played well here before. What is about this course that you seem to like?

JESSICA KORDA: I just a lot of layout. I love the grass. I don't know, Palm Springs is so nice. I'm definitely really sad that we're leaving. It's one of the golf courses you always look forward to coming back to because you know it, and the more that you know to the better you're going to play out here.

It is definitely about learning the golf course and learning the breaks, and it's been really nice to be here. It's going to be sad, but also we're really looking forward to what the future has for this event.

Q. What do you feel like you've learned most having played here so many years that can help you here tomorrow?

JESSICA KORDA: That I'm never out of it. I mean, I was 3-over through like 7 on the first day. I'm never out of it.

Q. After withdrawing from the Drive On Championship with the injury, how did you spend your time before you came back out to play last week?

JESSICA KORDA: Not the way I was thought I was going to. Definitely lots of rehab and taking it really slow. Kind of was playing golf every other day to see how I was feeling. First time I played 18 was actually the Seminole Pro-Member.

And even then before that I was kind of playing golf every other day, just really pacing myself and not trying to push it. There is no reason to. It's the beginning of the year. We've got a long season ahead of us.

Q. How are you feeling physically this week?

JESSICA KORDA: Good, thank you.

Q. You mentioned the Seminole Pro-Member. That looked like a blast; you played well. What's that event like?

JESSICA KORDA: Never thought I would win a net division, so that was a cool thing for me. I love that golf course. The members are fantastic. My partner, Mike Troy, and I had such a great time. It was just a really, really fun day and I always look forward playing it.

Q. You're just going to be a few strokes off the lead. What's the game plan for tomorrow?

JESSICA KORDA: Same as today: Stay aggressive and make birdies where I can and just see what happens. It's a major.

Q. Jessica, really taking moving day to heart, jumping from a tie for 16th into third. What was the strategy to start the day?

JESSICA KORDA: Just be aggressive. The greens are getting really, really crusty and so coming in with higher ball flight I think is definitely a bit of an advantage.

But definitely staying aggressive.

Q. You're used to having your sister out here with you week to week. She's obviously not here this week. Recovering from a blood clot. How different has it been just not having here out here?

JESSICA KORDA: Yeah, it's definitely different. Not the same, but I got dad here, so it's great. I got Charlie with me, too, so I can never complain.

Q. You're in a good spot heading into the final round. What do you expect it will take to give yourself a shot tomorrow?

JESSICA KORDA: A lot lower than I shot today. I saw Jen was at 16 and had a lot of holes left, so definitely a low round for sure.