HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 20, 2023

Nelly Korda

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Nelly Korda after her second round at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Lots of birdies out there for you today. What was the best part of your round?

NELLY KORDA: I was actually a little frustrated with my round today. I don't think I was hitting or putting that good, especially on the front. I had a lot of opportunities. I think I was hitting it better on the front than I was the back, but then I was draining it on the back, so it kind of switched on me.

Yeah, I'm going to go to the putting green after and kind of figure it out. Overall, you know, even if I didn't have my A game, I still shot 3-under par and I'm happy with that.

Q. Lots of players have said that putting has been challenging today.

NELLY KORDA: Yep.

Q. What is it about the greens or in general what is the struggle out there?

NELLY KORDA: They're very tight, so obviously they're also pretty fast as well. They're very subtle, so obviously if you're kind of one of the later groups you've had a couple groups go through; foot traffic always plays a part in that, too.

Yeah, the greens are subtle. If you're rolling them well, it's good. If you're aggressive, you don't have to take so much break. But I'm not a really aggressive putter. I'm more of a putter that kind of dies my putts in, so when you get a bit of foot traffic it hits the spike mark here and there it gets frustrating.

Q. Is your feel any different? I know new putter.

NELLY KORDA: Same putter.

Q. Same putter?

NELLY KORDA: Yep.

Q. Carrying on with the Seby question, how much inspiration did you take from his big win?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I saw him -- actually, I saw him win in dining, so that was cool. I did actually wake up 30 minutes before my alarm to watch him play just naturally knowing that he was playing.

Honestly, he's put in a bunch of work. He has an amazing support system behind him, and it's really cool and special to see him do what he's doing. Hopefully he can continue making this run.

But from an outside point of view, it's really special seeing him achieve all this, and I couldn't be happier for him.

Q. Does it change the perspective of your day when you have such happy news in the morning in the family?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, obviously I'm in a better mood, but then once I hit -- step foot on the first tee I'm in my own bubble and it's game time. His play won't make my play any better.

It's just going to put you in a better mood. That's about it. If you make a birdie on the first hole, sure, it'll put me in a good mood, too. Once I made that bogey, whatever he did and the good mood I was in previously is gone.

Q. What's the role of those late birdies? One, in putting together a score for today, and furthermore just giving you momentum for the weekend?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, obviously it's super important. As I said, I wasn't really hitting it good and I was actually rolling a couple long ones in. I rolled a longer one in on 17. Wasn't really happy with my iron shot there.

And then I was kind of unhappy with my par-5s, too, the gettable ones. 9 I parred and then I parred 15 I think, yeah.

So obviously that was a little frustrating to me, so it was nice to get the longer one on 17. But started putting a lot better on the back nine. Actually brought my caddie in to help me read a couple putts for just like reassurance, and I think that really helped.

Q. Obviously I know everyone in your family works hard, but I'm wondering if there are any tips, crossovers that you give each other, mentally or nutrition, things like that?

NELLY KORDA: Nutrition, no. Obviously Seb is in a lot better shape than Jess and I are. I think coming with the background of athletic parents I have been in the world of sports. We have always kind of paid attention to nutrition and also the mental aspect of it. Obviously when they're down we're going to be the first ones to text them or call them to have keep their head up.

We constantly reassure each other that it's not a sprint, it's a marathon, and anything can change in a split moment and just to keep going.

Q. I have one more question about your brother.

NELLY KORDA: Yep.

Q. He said yesterday in his press conference that he was the worst athlete in the family. What do you think about that?

NELLY KORDA: It's complete BS. He's the best. Honestly, he's the best. His hand-eye coordination is unbelievable. His swing -- I'm jealous of his swing actually. It's crazy. He's a lefty. He's a natural righty, but he plays golf lefty. He played hockey lefty. I mean, he grew up playing hockey. He was pretty good at it, too. Like he skates really nicely, plays golf nicely, plays tennis beautifully.

He's full of shit. Excuse my French.

Q. What of his swing would you like to have?

NELLY KORDA: It's funny, he swings it lefty which is really nice. He doesn't change his hands and he swings it righty and still pures it. Yeah, it's just, he's special. He's one of a kind. He's really talented.