FIR HILLS SERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP

March 23, 2024

Nelly Korda

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Nelly Korda after her third round at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship. Nelly, just what's this week been like for you, and especially today with the wind and conditions? Take us through your round.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, did today was definitely I would say the toughest day with the wind and a little bit softer conditions with the rain we had in the morning.

I would say the wind was of huge factor, especially we're on -- we're pretty much on top of the hill. You don't really get many flat lies in the fairways here. One, already that's tough enough and then you factor in the wind. I'm very pleased with 4-under today.

Q. How does this golf course bring out some of your strengths and what are some of the things that are making it a little bit tricky out there?

NELLY KORDA: I think this golf course is so fun because it brings out the creativity. As I said, you never really get a really flat lie and a lot of these greens are really bouncy and firm, too, so it's definitely different from what I'm used to playing on bermudagrass, playing po with the greens, but I think it's fun playing -- I wouldn't say I would want to play this every week, not playing on the side of a hill and windy, but I enjoy playing it because it brings out the creativity and I feel like that's fun with golf.

Q. What does that tell you when you're able to grind out a round like this? You just looked so solid out there today.

NELLY KORDA: For me, I have had seven weeks off since my last event, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. This week was more of like a -- not a practice event. Obviously still going in wanting to win, wanting to succeed, but seeing where my game has been at with seven weeks off.

But it's definitely encouraging with the weather we've had today and shooting a low score.

Q. Coming up on 100 days out from the Olympics. I don't know if there is going to be a defending champion when a gold medal is involved, but defending at the Olympics this year, what does that mean and how excited are you to get to Paris and get underway?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I'll start thinking about that when I'm on the team. Still haven't secured my spot. I would say getting to represent -- any time I get to represent red, white, and blue it's a huge honor. That would just be another thing I would being extremely grateful for.

Q. Obviously one of the strongest years I feel like of your career at that point in 2021. Was just insane for you. When you think back to that time and winning the gold medal what memories come back?

NELLY KORDA: Such a blur now. It's crazy. The major, I mean, I think I won like five times, not including the -- maybe including -- yeah, including the Olympics, so it was just such a blur of a year.

But so amazing. I mean, there are memories that I created that last a lifetime, and one of the best things that year was winning in Florida for the first time and winning in front of my parents, an LPGA event for the first time, too.

So there is just so many great things that went on in 2021. Hopefully I can get some of that good juju into 2024.

Q. Where is the medal? I know it was in a sock for a minute. Is it still in a sock?

NELLY KORDA: It's displayed nicely. It's deserved a really nice spot in my office.

Q. Like a glass case or anything?

NELLY KORDA: No, just kind of in the case that I got it but it's displayed really nicely, yeah.

Q. Just two more from me. Just thinking off the course, about a month and change out, what's it like -- what's aunt life like?

NELLY KORDA: It's great. I've only seen Greyson twice. I tell Jess that's the only reason I drive over there, but she takes it. It's a three and a half hour drive or three hour drive. It's quite far. But he's so cute. We get daily updates in our family chat, and he's a chunker, yeah. He's feeding well.

Q. And then just last one. What's it going to take for you tomorrow to keep up in contention and get yourself over the top maybe?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I don't think the weather is going to get any easier. I think it's actually going to get tougher. I think they're projecting for actually stronger winds. So just sticking to my game plan and trying not make mistakes and take the opportunities when I can.

Sometimes these par-5s sometimes are downwind, majority of the time, so trying to take advantage of the downwind holes and trying to play it safe and make as less amount of mistakes as possible.