THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 10, 2024

Nelly Korda

Evian Resort Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome back inside the media center at the Amundi Evian Championship. I am pleased to be joined by Nelly Korda. As much as I love talking about our cats and about everything you've got going on, what has the last couple weeks been like for you gearing up for to beautiful Evian Championship?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, couple weeks have been good. Spent two weeks at home which was nice. Brother came back. Got to celebrate his birthday, and my sister drove over with her husband and Greyson.

So that was nice to kind of -- for all of us to be together. Last time we were together it was November time last year, so really wholesome getting to spend time with family and recharge my batteries by doing that.

Q. What's it like to be able to have that kind of time after what has been an incredible season, really take that time to mentally reset for an incredible summer swing ahead of us?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's almost like we have five majors in a row to feel like. It's a lot of high pressure golf for sure, so as important as it is to practice and to grind, it's also really important to recharge your batteries after a pretty long stretch.

Just super grateful they were in town and we got to hang out and take time for each other.

Q. I know you don't like to talk about things until they were final, final. I know you've been asked about it since you won the gold medal. It is finally final since we last talked that you are heading back to the Olympic Games to defend your gold medal. When you think of the next couple weeks and days, how real does it feel that it's around the corner?

NELLY KORDA: Gosh, I'm so excited. Any time I get to represent my country it's just such a really big honor. To get to do that at the Olympics is going to be an amazing experience again. Getting to do it in Paris, maybe this year getting to watch a couple sports that we didn't get to do in Japan and Tokyo.

It's going to be a little sad not getting to go with my sister. I think that was -- that's what was so special about 2021, was getting to share that experience with Jess.

But, yeah, I'm just really excited to represent the USA at the Olympics again.

Q. Is there a special place you have the gold medal?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, being in The Office. It has its own shelf. My majors are on one shelf and then the Olympics has its own shelf too.

Q. What's on that shelf?

NELLY KORDA: I have a plaque that I think Greg made for me, Nasa's caddie, and has the rings and Tokyo. Then I have my badge on there and a couple other things.

Q. Wonderful. What a nice little memory.

NELLY KORDA: Uh-huh.

Q. To be in France now, what is the energy feeling like here? Do you feel it yet? The Paris Olympics is just a few weeks.

NELLY KORDA: No. I think I tend to just try to focus on what's right in front of me. I've never been to Paris. I've flown through Paris, so also really excited to get to see Paris and maybe be a little bit of a tourist if I have some time.

But, yeah, when the week comes I know I'm going to be so excited. I'm definitely going to go watch the guys on the final day and root on the U.S. and get to watch the guys that I grew up idolizing and watch every day on TV.

Q. And just being here, I know this is a golf course that takes a couple years to figure out. You seem to have figured it out quick. What have you learned the past few years playing here that's helped you have success here?

NELLY KORDA: I think the really big word this week is patience. You can hit a really good shot and get a really bad bounce, and you can hit a bad shot and get a really good bounce. So it's really important to be patient out here this week.

Definitely took me a couple years to kind of figure it out. I think the most important thing out here is not to get too ahead of yourself and not get too frustrated with the bad bounces.

Q. Just this golf course being so undulating, how tricky is that to have maybe not always the flattest lie in the fairway?

NELLY KORDA: It's fun. It's definitely a different style of golf course. Ball is above your feet, the ball is below your feet, you're playing a lot to the breaks of the contour of the greens, playing for bounces.

It's a fun, funky style of golf, but I think it's cool to play as well.

Q. I don't know if you know the story of the first woman who won the Olympic golf tournament in 1900. She actually never ever knew she had won the Olympic tournament. She died in the '50s and had no idea. The contrast between that experience and yours I'm imagining is pretty vast. When you've taken the gold medal around, what impact has it had on people when they see it?

NELLY KORDA: For me, I grew up never really being able to -- never knowing if I was going to be able to compete in the Olympics. It was never really a dream for me because it was never a reality until 2016 when golf was introduced back into the Olympics.

It was something every four years or even two years. We did love watching the Winter Games as well that we all watched as a family. Back then it was just my mom that got to represent her country.

So winning the gold, that's one thing, but even just being an Olympian and being able to compete in the Olympics is such a big honor. It's only the girls in our family hold that honor.

Whenever I bring it around my friends and family they're always amazed and they're really moved by the gold medal because they've never even seen it up close. Just seeing that impact of people being amazed and wowed by the gold medal has been really cool.

Q. The contrast in the closing ceremonies, lifting a trophy is obviously very thrilling, but how does that contrast with standing on the podium and listening to the national anthem?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, there is just a complete rush of emotions that I went through. Wasn't really sure -- one, I was just -- with everything that went on with the closing of the tournament, with being on 17 and there was a rain delay and being called in and then going back out and being tied for the lead, just so many emotions going through me at that time.

When I finally stood on that podium I think there was just a complete rush of emotion that I've never felt in my entire life seeing my country's flag go up. That's when I realized that, wow, I just won an Olympic gold medal and everyone I watched on TV get to stand on the podium, that's what I'm doing right now.

I had a couple tears fall down my face. I think after the tensions that you go through and the adrenaline you go through throughout the entire day, when that last putt goes in you kind of release in a sense.

I know that my WHOOP said the highest heart rate I had that day was on the podium.

Q. You already said you would like to see some other sports when you're there. What did you experience in Tokyo that was unique to the Olympics that you're looking forward to in Paris?

NELLY KORDA: I think it's really cool how everyone trades the pins at the Olympics. It's like the little things you don't get to do every week; just the camaraderie between the countries, too.

And I still have that badge with all my pins right next to my medal.

Q. Just getting back to the task at hand here, can you just explain where you got bitten by the dog and what was the issue that you had to deal with.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, just I got bit in my leg. Just had to go through some medical things.

Q. Where was the bite?

NELLY KORDA: On my thigh.

Q. Leg?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. Just jumped out bit you from what I can gather.

NELLY KORDA: Uh-huh.

Q. You were walking past it?

NELLY KORDA: No, in a coffee shop in Seattle.

Q. 100% now?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, getting better.

Q. And just last year we spoke a bit about slow play and I think you came out afterwards saying it's obviously a course that does -- it's not one you can sprint round. Can you just give your thoughts again on slow play and spectators probably getting bored?

NELLY KORDA: I just think the faster people play is better for the game. The rules need to be enforced and we have seen that. I think the LPGA Tour is doing a better job. I still think there is some room for improvement, and it's going to be better for the game of golf if there aren't three groups on one hole.

I know there is tough golf courses and conditions too that need to -- that you take into account. But at the end of the day, the more we improve the pace of play the more people are going to be interested in watching coming out and not just watching on TV.

Q. Would you get bored if you were a spectator watching five, six hour rounds?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah. Definitely towards the six hour round, yeah. I would need a chair for sure.

Q. You were mentioning like your practice. How does working with somebody like Jamie Mulligan help you be more effective?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, Jamie comes with a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience. That's what I really appreciate about him. I also appreciate his positive energy. I get along with him really, really well, and no matter the situation I'm in, he's always someone that I kind of go to and that I can always just raise my spirits.

He's just great to be around and I'm so grateful for him. But when it gets time to -- as much as we laugh and enjoy each other's company, when it's time to get to work we both definitely get to work. I just really appreciate his honesty and hard work with me.

Q. Several themes going on, one is Solheim Cup. Kind of your frustrations, but your memories of last year and then what do you expect from this year.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, that's just what it is. Like sometimes there is more heartbreak than happiness in sports. The good times, that's what makes you come back and that's what makes you work harder. Like the team was amazing. The atmosphere in our room was great. We all got along really well.

But at the end of the day the three Solheim Cups that I have been on we haven't brought the Cup back, and that's always the main goal. Hopefully we can do it back in the States.

Q. Back to the Olympics. What do you know of Golf National and the Albatross course, and do you plan to go and practice on it after this week for example or right before the tournament?

NELLY KORDA: I know absolutely zero about the golf course. Just know that Ryder Cup was played out there. I don't really remember watching it. It's kind of linksy maybe is what I've heard. Ish. I know the rough is penalizing but that's all I know.

No, I will not be going out there after this week. Just going to see the golf course the week of the event.

Q. And last question: The Olympics tournament is a singular tournament as a major tournament, as any of the other tournaments you play week by week. Would you favor a change of formula, just doing some doubles for example, mixed doubles or women's doubles in the future to have something new, something different and a team effort?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think I would want to keep the individual part of it, but also add in the team part of it. I think that would be fun. In the sense right now it's just like a regular event and I think with the Olympics being every four years and being so special, it would be nice to see maybe something new that is not played at all.

Q. Mixed doubles for example?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. Just since we last saw you at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and you spoken about the dog bite and now, have you been able with the bite to work on the things you want to do? How has your preparation been as a whole?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I took one week off. Didn't even look at my clubs after KPMG. Was just healing. Then been practicing. Was lucky that Jamie came in, my coach came in for two days with me to practice with me.

Practiced the past week and tried to get ready for this event.

Q. Is there anything specific you were working on off the back of the play that you had previously or just a general thing?

NELLY KORDA: No, just mainly my swing. I feel like I just got loose. I had a two way miss and that was pretty difficult at Sahalee. Wasn't really dialed at all. Just tried to get the swing dialed and give myself one key to work on.

Q. You have shown a great deal of mental fortitude throughout the season, winning in all forms and fashion, all different courses. Coming off the stretch you've been having how have you gone about processing mentally? What's it been like to kind of reset before this impressive summer swing?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think I've gone through every emotion possible, and it's just July, on the golf course. You know, I love this game. I love the bad, I love the good.

The bad makes you appreciate the good and that's just how it is. It's sports. If you care so deeply about it you're just going to go through the wave of the roller coaster.

I have a great team, amazing family that keep me ground and keep my perspective positive. They all lift me up even when I'm down and they make sure that we all stay very, very grounded and very, very humble, because sometimes you can get a little too ahead of yourself.

But the game humbles you enough itself, which I learned a great deal recently. That's what I love about. Even if I'm not playing well I'm going to go out and give it a 100% and go back and word harder and did the same thing.

So I'm really lucky to have the support system that I have, and they're the reasons why I am still here.