ARAMCO TEAM SERIES - NEW YORK ROUND FOUR

October 12, 2022

Nelly Korda

Lexi Thompson

Glen Oaks Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome everyone to the Aramco Team Series New York on the Ladies European Tour. This is the fourth event of the year following tournaments in Bangkok, London and Sotogrande. Delighted to welcome some of the biggest names in golf to New York: Our Sotogrande champion, world No. 4, Nelly Korda and world No. 8, Lexi Thompson.

You've played in multiples events around the world. What do you like about the formation of these tournaments?

NELLY KORDA: I think we play so many events on the LPGA Tour, and it's nice to kind of switch it up for a team aspect. I think it's very different and it's fun, and throughout the season, maybe, you know, competing and traveling gets a little tiring, so it's kind of a breath of fresh air kind of having a team and doing a little something different throughout the season.

Q. And Lexi, what do you think?

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I definitely agree. I think golf being such an individual sport, it's always the same every week for us most of the time. So it's nice to have a little bit of a change and a team aspect to it and to be able to be paired with an amateur and to let them in kind of on a golfer's experience and how we prepare and take on a golf course, it gives them a little insight. It's different and I think that's what golf needs.

Q. It must be fun to play a course in the heart of the city these breathtaking views. I don't know if you played the course much but what do you think you need to do well on a links-type setup?

LEXI THOMPSON: You need to start directing these questions (laughter) no, it's an amazing golf course in great shape. I got to play 14 or 15 holes yesterday. Beside the traffic in New York, everything is great. To take on this golf course, keep it in the fairways and there's some fescue in there. And it will be weather depending, if it's super windy there's not too much to block it, so keeping a if trajectory on the ball flight so it's in great shape for us.

THE MODERATOR: You've played a lot of links courses in the U.K. are you well prepared this week for that type of challenge?

NELLY KORDA: Hopefully, as Lexi said, I think we are expecting a bit of weather tomorrow, so it all depends on that.

But yeah, I played nine holes. It's a beautiful track, some really amazing it views, too, especially if you get on top of one of the mounds on the golf course and the greens are a little tougher. They are a little undulated so that will play a good defense as well.

Q. And just finally for both of you, speak to some of the other players on the LET, what do you think of what the ATS is doing in terms of impact and player opportunities and creating new pathways for more players and more female golfers around the world to play in these big events?

LEXI THOMPSON: I think it's amazing what they are doing. As an athlete of any sport we just want to grow our game and grow our sport individually but I think what they are doing with golf and giving other girls an opportunity to bring out their best, I think it's great and they are very grateful for this opportunity.

NELLY KORDA: I agree.

Q. We've always had a lot of news about LIV Golf dominating our headlines and a similar subject with the Golf Saudi backing this event. As LIV has faced backlash, do you not think there should be similar backlash or there's similar sentiment that this is sponsoring a women's golf event and the treatment of women within Saudi Arabia?

LEXI THOMPSON: I would say that without the support of Aramco, LET would not be as strong as it is today. And I think they are growing the game of golf in women's golf, and I think that if you speak to any of the Ladies European Tour players, they are extremely grateful for this opportunity, and I think that's what Aramco is trying to do. They are trying to grow the women's game, and I support that fully.

Q. On the subject of growing the game and the connection there, the LPGA Commissioner says she would be open to discussions with Greg Norman and LIV Golf on a collaboration. Would that be something that you as players would also welcome?

NELLY KORDA: I mean, right now that's kind of speculation. As a player I don't really know and that is not in my hands. That's for the Tour Commissioner.

LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, exactly. I mean, the talks is out there that that might happen but hasn't been brought to us. We are just doing what we can and that's playing the LPGA and there's not much else. We are just growing the game. There's not much else we can do.

Q. You're in New York, and with THE 9/11 families, there's a lot of concern about events like this and LIV playing here and recently City Hall discussed canceling this event or not allowing a LIV event to player here. How do you feel about playing with those concerns?

NELLY KORDA: Well, I haven't heard about any cancellations possibly but it's very unfortunate what has happened here. It a blessing just to be here in general and to be able to play in New York, but it's very unfortunate what has happened here. You know, it's tough to say that we are glad to be here growing a golf tournament and just glad to be growing the game and doing what we can.

Q. For both of you guys, getting back to LIV and the question will the LPGA Commissioner, are you guys open to being a part of that? You talk about growing the game. Obviously the ladies tours are trying to gain as much recognition and attention as possible and obviously there's a lot of money there as well. How do you both feel if that were to take place because Greg has been pretty open in saying that he wants to have a women's golf arm to LIV. Where do you stand on that if that were to come to fruition?

NELLY KORDA: I can only speak for myself but my eyes are set on the LPGA. That's all speculation to me. I'm focusing on the LPGA Tour and what's in front of me and with all the LIV stuff going on, that's all speculation and I don't focus on speculations.

LEXI THOMPSON: Exactly. All we are doing is focusing on the LPGA Tour and what we are playing. No opportunities have been brought upon us or the Tour, so I know Mollie said that she would have conversations but that's not in our control. We are just doing what we can on our tour.

NELLY KORDA: And that has not been brought up to us as players. I think that's very much internal.