U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

June 4, 2022

Nelly Korda

Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. 1-under 70, maybe not the finish you wanted but still, three rounds under par after four months off. You have to take some positives out of that.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, for sure, definitely not the finish I wanted. That was tough. I'm sure that was tough to watch, too.

But yeah, I'm just happy to be out here, even though that was a tough pill to swallow. I still have one more day and I'm doing what I love and I'm out here in the heat competing at the U.S. Women's Open, and a couple months back I wasn't sure if I was going to be doing that.

So I'm just grateful to be out here.

Q. Did you notice the crowd following you around today?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it was really cool. Honestly, super special. I don't think I've ever had that big of a crowd following me at a Women's Open or in general on a Saturday, not even being in the last pairing. So that was really cool to hear everyone shout my name.

And for everyone to say that they're happy that I'm back, it felt really nice, too.

Q. Do you enjoy the challenge out there?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I definitely do. I didn't really enjoy the challenge on my last three holes, but I do, yeah.

Q. Have there been any specific moments over these past three rounds where you've taken a moment to just absorb everything going on in your return?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, for sure. A couple times during the round I really, really love when like the little kids and little girls kind of scream my name. Some of them even ask me for an autograph during the round, and I just can't say no. I'm just so happy to be out here.

Q. Seems like the course is playing a little easier than other courses in the U.S. Women's Open rota. What's your opinion on the setup and difficulty out there?

NELLY KORDA: I like it. I like a really tough Donald Ross with a lot of falloffs. I like when the greens are small. I'm not a huge fan of big greens. You have to hit really good quality shots into the greens.

I would say I don't know if they're planning for the greens to be a little firmer than they are. You're definitely very hesitant with some of the pin positions, but you can be more aggressive than you think you can just because the greens are pretty soft.