KROGER QUEEN CITY CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY P&G

September 7, 2022

Jessica Korda

Kenwood Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome inside the press room at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.

We are joined by Jessica Korda, who just got off the golf course in the pro-am. I know it's pretty wet out there, but what do you think of the course so far?

JESSICA KORDA: It's a beautiful golf course. It's just a shame it's like so wet.

So, yeah, I mean, we'll see what's going to happen because they haven't been able to go out there and cut the grass in a couple days and you can see when you roll the ball on the greens just that it's catching the mower marks a little bit.

But it is a beautiful golf course. There are som many run-offs behind the greens. It's a shame because you can really see that this place would be a really fun place to play and a really good test.

THE MODERATOR: New venue, new event this year. What do you do when the golf course is new? Obviously not ideal right now, but what do you do to prepare for a new venue?

JESSICA KORDA: I mean, normally you would be playing maybe an extra practice round and paying a lot of attention. With how soft it is the ball ends up exactly where you hit it, sometimes its own mark, so obviously that changes a little bit.

I will not get to see one of the nines. It's just been raining and obviously closed, so we haven't been able to see one of the nines.

But that's kind of where your caddie and yourself can get together and use a yardage book and just play it by ear. It's going to be the same for everyone.

THE MODERATOR: First time in Cincinnati I'm assuming.

JESSICA KORDA: Uh-huh.

THE MODERATOR: What are your impressions outside the golf course so far?

JESSICA KORDA: It's so nice. We went downtown for dinner Monday night and it looks really cool. I have this afternoon to see if I want to go explore or take it easy.

Yeah, got lots of time on my hands now. (Smiling.)

THE MODERATOR: Let's chat about the season. Playing some good golf. Played pretty well couple weeks ago in Spain. I know you've had some injuries earlier this season, but you seem ton rolling with it now. What's been working so well with your game?

JESSICA KORDA: I'm not sure. It's kind of just been like this for the last couple years, just trying to manage my injuries. It's something I've had to do my entire career, and so I just take each day for what it is and manage through it.

THE MODERATOR: How exciting was that to play in Spain? Shot some pretty low numbers.

JESSICA KORDA: Yeah, it was awesome. I got really sick. Nelly was really sick the week before, high fever, and obviously rooming together, and so I got it during Spain.

So I did not feel very well. It was hot and the golf course was tough. But it was beautiful spot. Can't wait for Solheim Cup to go over there, and the people were awesome. They're really pumped about Solheim Cup, so it's really cool.

THE MODERATOR: I think we are as well. Open it up.

Q. The holes you were able to play today, any stand out to you that are particularly challenging or fun?

JESSICA KORDA: Well, the fact I had 4-iron into the first hole was a real shock on a par-4. So like I said, I don't know how they're going to play it.

For me, it was more just trying to see the golf course, and then the conditions are obviously secondhand. But I don't know how they're going to set it up. That's going to be one.

I heard something about standing on the fourth green looking back towards the tee box and not being able to see the bunkers. I'll have to check that out tomorrow. I know they redid the golf course like three years ago and some of the greens were actually pretty firm, which I was really surprised about.

With how much water we have on the actual golf course, to then not see your golf ball spin back on the greens was very interesting, because I was expecting massive rip back and we didn't see that today at all.

Q. How does that affect you when you're not getting to see the whole course first off, and that the conditions are so different than what you're expecting to see the next couple days? How does that impact you as you try to prepare for the tournament to start tomorrow?

JESSICA KORDA: I think it's -- I'm okay. I'm more in a position of I'm just going to see how it is and play golf and have fun.

I'm not trying to save my card or anything like that. I think my mindset is slightly different. I think I would be a little bit more antsy if it was a different way for me.

But I'm just happy to be here. I was excited to come to Cincinnati. My husband is a huge Bengals fan. His entire life; not just because they played well last year.

So I was excited to come here. It is a huge bummer because this golf course does look really cool, and I don't think this is something they deserved.

Q. Your husband, a Bengals fan? So is he joining you this week and is he pumped for opening weekend?

JESSICA KORDA: He is not joining me. I was like, oh, you can come for a game. Maybe it's a night game or something. He was like, Jess, it's like a 1:00 p.m. game. I was like, oh, on the weekend? Yeah, you're not going to make it. If it's me on the or the Bengals, it better be me.

But, no, he's busy at home, so he's going to watch it on TV. Yeah, it was pretty -- it was one of the things I think he was kind of looking forward to maybe coming up, but just didn't work out in his schedule.

Q. We'll put that in the back of our minds. Let's go Bengals, because we are in Cincinnati. The last few weeks I feel like have been a really crazy stretch for you. You have been traveling all over. You got to go back in Europe to relax a little bit. When is the last time you feel like you've been go, go, going the way you have been go, go, going this summer?

JESSICA KORDA: Last summer, yeah, and next summer. The way that our schedule is it's just insane for the summer stretch. In the last nine weeks I have been home a full three days. I've seen my husband for ten and my dog for three days.

So it's crazy, but I got family time in Czech Republic in between then, and got to see our brother in New York for a couple days. I wasn't playing the whole time, but still it's definitely a lot.

Q. I wanted to ask about that. Seeing Seb, being with Nelly there in New York, what was that experience like for you?

JESSICA KORDA: It was fun. It's really stressful obviously. I get really into his matches -- into tennis period. With Nelly I'm more relaxed and it's just different.

But it was super fun. It's so cool to see your little brother that in your mind he's still this little dweeb that's super small, being 22 years old and signing autographs and playing so well.

It's just really surreal to be able to kind of just see him grow up like that. It's cool.

Q. In your off week when you were able to go home, I think I saw an Instagram story of you enjoying the pool, being able to out the clubs down. How beneficial, even if it's three days, as you look upon the rest of the season?

JESSICA KORDA: Yeah, so much. I'm excited. Next week is my first full week at home in a while, so I'm really excited to just be home, be normal.

You do see how much you miss out on though. I saw my friend for like three hours. She doesn't play golf so I haven't seen her in a really long time.

Everyone is like, oh, I haven't seen you in so long. Yeah, I haven't been home. It is nice. The older I get the more I appreciate being home and making home my own oasis.

Q. Absolutely. Monday was a really awesome experience I feel like for Jane Park celebrating Grace Park's second birthday. You and a number of our Tour players were there celebrating Grace, Jane, and family. What was that day like for you.

JESSICA KORDA: Yeah, it was so nice. I haven't seen Jane in such a long time and obviously Grace has grown so much. She's definitely the biggest two year old I've ever seen.

The only thing that really defines them is resilience. The love and the support system they have around them is amazing. Literally from feeds to -- it's just such a different life.

Just seeing Jane smile and Pete smile was awesome, and getting to interact with Grace was phenomenal.

Just always trying to raise awareness about them and for them and just try to help them in any way possible. I think it's the most important thing for her friends for us.

Q. What does it mean to really show up for your fellow tour player and fellow friend in the way you all have shown up for her in the past few years?

JESSICA KORDA: I mean, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to imagine what she's going through day-to-day. You go from being a golfer to a mom to a mom that plays golf, to having your life flipped upside down.

The way that her and Pete have been able to just manage their life, they're just so resilient. They find the happiness in each day, which I know is tough, and it's tough to watch them go through that.

But this tour is a family, and just the same as they kind of took me in when I was a rookie. You make friendships out here for life. It's not just golf.

Q. How much do you carry that perspective with you as you is obviously have had some struggles yourself battling injury and trying to get back?

JESSICA KORDA: Yeah, it's just golf. You know, injuries come and go and I'll get through it, figure it out. That's just how I always have.

But this kind of stuff is more important.

Q. Heading into the rest of the season, eight tournaments left. I know you're probably not playing all of them.

JESSICA KORDA: No, body can't do that.

Q. Obviously had a pretty solid season. What goals are you setting or what goals do you still have to accomplish with just eight events left on the calendar?

JESSICA KORDA: Obviously winning would be really nice. Putting myself in position week in and week out is always important. That's kind of it. I'm just trying to keep myself relevant and in a position where if extra putts drop, like I'll be right there.

My caddie, Kyle, and I have been doing a good job planning our way around the golf course. My physio team all walking with me every day and making sure that if something does go wrong with my body, they're there to be able to help me.

Feel like I have a really good team. It's a little bit more difficult these days, but I definitely have a good team.

THE MODERATOR: Awesome. We're looking forward to it. Good luck this week.