T-MOBILE MATCH PLAY PRESENTED BY MGM REWARDS

April 6, 2024

Nelly Korda

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Nelly Korda after her semifinal round at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards. Pretty dominant start and a little bit of back and forth there at the end were take us through the round.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I played really solid at the start. I think I shot 2-under on the front nine. Was just making a lot of pars and then gave myself two good looks at birdie, so I capitalized on that. Also a chip-in.

Obviously the back nine is a little tougher so started to make a little bit more mistakes. Fatigue started setting in it just a little.

Happy with the win.

Q. Speaking of fatigue, here you are again poised for another shot at another title. What's the energy level at? How tired are you from this extraordinary run?

NELLY KORDA: I'm excited. I think match play is so fun. It kind of brings out something different with golf. It's 1 v. 1. You don't get to do that. When I play tournaments I think of it more me playing the golf course.

Match play is a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to going home, but, yeah, I'm excited about the finals tomorrow and excited about the golf that I've been playing because it's been a lot of fun.

Q. Leona just clinched her match. Just talk about her game and what kind of challenge it will be going especially against her?

NELLY KORDA: She's just so consistent. Such a tough competitor. Really grinds out there. We've had a couple battles in Solheim Cups for sure.

But I think it's just going to be a grind tomorrow, I think it'll be a lot of fun and nothing is going to be easy.

Q. You had such a big early lead. Is the strategy after that to keep it simple and make the opponent try to play perfect?

NELLY KORDA: Fairways and greens. Fairways and greens out here. That's all I was thinking. Worked out well. Started making mistakes on the back nine, but, no, I stuck to the game plan of fairways and greens.

Q. How much are you thinking about four in a row and all the talk about catching Nancy's record? Are you just trying to get through the week?

NELLY KORDA: I'm just really excited about tomorrow honestly. I'm excited to see my family, excited to go home, and I'm excited to go out and play a really good match tomorrow.

That's really what I'm all thinking about.

Q. After this run is it good to have a week off then before a major?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think -- I actually don't know. I've never been on a run like this. I don't know. We'll see.

Yeah, I think it's good. I didn't take a day off at all in the past two weeks. When I got to Arizona I took Monday off but I didn't get to do that this week because I didn't know the golf course and it was a Wednesday start.

So I was out here practicing with my coach. He flew in for two days before he was going to go over with Patrick Cantlay to the Masters.

I greatly appreciated him coming out and seeing me after the win, because sometimes your body can be in all sorts and your swing can be in all sorts, so it was nice to have him here.

Yeah, grinded on Monday, pro-amed on Tuesday, and tee'd it back up on Wednesday. Played two matches today, so lots of golf.

Q. How important is it or good is it to have a course like Shadow before a major? Going to make the major seem not as difficult?

NELLY KORDA: I think every golf course has its own challenges. This golf course is completely different grass. You're playing a completely different type of game. You're playing for a lot of release here, while I think Chevron, I don't know how it's going to be this year, but last year it was pretty soft so you could being a lot more aggressive.

Every golf course has its own challenges. That's why you get there so early, so you can create a game plan.

Q. Then just was looking at your Solheim history with Leona, looks like she's gotten the better of you, but that was always with a partner.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. Does any of that play in your mind at all, or just a brand new day tomorrow?

NELLY KORDA: I think it's a brand new day. I know she's going to be fiery. That's just how Leona is. She's a great competitor. I think it'll be great to share the stage with her and hopefully it'll be a good show.