MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP

October 25, 2023

Nelly Korda

Angel Yin

Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome, everybody, back to the media center here at the Maybank Championship. I am joined by Nelly Korda and Angel Yin.

I know you have both played here before. Can you each take us back to 2017 the last final you were ear at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Angel, start us off.

ANGEL YIN: I think we were playing a different golf course back then so I think we were playing where the men played. It's very exciting to see the layout. I think it's more narrow. It was my rookie year and your rookie year, so long time ago.

NELLY KORDA: Long time ago. We played too many golf courses since then.

ANGEL YIN: Yeah. It's not as hot as the last year -- not last year, like 2017, because I thought I was going to pass out.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, 2017 was so long ago, but I do remember how nice of a golf course this is. As Angel said, we're playing the other golf course. I think the champion's side is what I recall. It is I think a little longer and a little bit more narrow as well and a lot hillier.

ANGEL YIN: Yeah, it is a lot hillier. I didn't realize that until you said it. I just realized it was like not as hot and really happy about that.

Q. Angel, just two weeks out from your first win on tour. What sort of support and just feelings you've had the past couple weeks as the victory is sinking in?

ANGEL YIN: A lot of text messages, and I'm sorry I never got back to a lot of people.

NELLY KORDA: Including me.

ANGEL YIN: Yeah, she's like, you didn't reply to me; I'm like, I'm sorry. So I'm also happy that I'm not the only person on Solheim to have not won, so a lot of small accomplishments that happened after I won.

But Asia is really tight. We're playing a lot of tournament back to back. Just grateful that I got one in one of they have.

Q. Nelly, still looking for your first win this year. But you are about to defend at Pelican and have a big opportunity this week with a really strong field. How is your game shaping up and how are you feeling heading into this week?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, kind of a bit of a roller coaster this year with my game, the consistency of it. Obviously was out with an injury in the middle part of the year, but haven't really been able to kind of gain any form or momentum.

So hopefully I can form something going into the last two in Florida since they're home events, and obviously defending Pelican. So we'll see what happens. Hopefully I can create some momentum going into those two events.

Q. Angel, you won in China, and then you were fourth last week. Are you hoping perhaps for a win this week?

ANGEL YIN: I mean, I think anyone who participants in an event wants to win, so that's something that we all hope for, but can't really set that as your goal.

I mean, you do set that as one of your goals but not something you mainly focus on. Just want to play day by day. Course is difficult because it's tight. Shows some challenges, so see how it goes after the first day, and then we'll play however it is and see where I sit going into the final day and take it from there.

Q. Nelly, how has your season been this year, and what is your focus this week?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think season has been up and down. There have been really good finishes. At the beginning of the year golf felt really easy. Just was top 10ing, and then I got injured and the momentum of my season really shifted.

So kind of a little bit disappointing obviously, but that's golf, right? You kind of have to ride the wave of it. You got to put your head down and sometimes work.

I've been doing that, and I'm hoping for a momentum shift going into this week and then the last two in Florida as well. But, yeah, definitely a bit of an up and down year, which, you know, they're sports, so I feel like athletes are always kind of in a spotlight, so when we have bad days they're really magnified too.

So unfortunately I've definitely had a few of those this year, but hoping to change that momentum.

Q. Question for the two of you. Since you have played on both courses now, how would you compare in terms of difficulty and playability?

NELLY KORDA: I can't really remember the last -- 2017 is so -- I just remember it not being as hilly. I think there is more water on this golf course. A little bit more narrow. The rough is actually really thick as well, so hitting fairways is probably going to be pretty crucial. From what I remember, I think it's not as hilly.

ANGEL YIN: I just have one memory. It was Suzann Pettersen. I was on the par-4; she was on the par-3 hitting over the water. I think it was here. She hit the shot and drops the F bomb. That was my core memory. Yeah, Malaysia for me.

NELLY KORDA: Wow.

Q. What made you want to come and play in Malaysia?

NELLY KORDA: I was super excited. I remember coming here my rookie here in 2017 and, one, I like playing in hot weather, and this reminds me a little bit of home kind of with the warm weather. I really like the golf course, the city.

I mean, I think majority of the tour was really, really excited to come back to Malaysia.

ANGEL YIN: I was playing the round and I was looking at the grass and I was like, this is Nelly's golf course. Looks like Taiwan where she won twice and looks like Pelican. The grass is like perfect for her. It's right back to Bradenton, Florida.

NELLY KORDA: Hopefully.

Q. What else do you look forward to in Malaysia off the golf course?

ANGEL YIN: Can you tell me where to visit because I'm curious? There is that, what, twin thing.

NELLY KORDA: Twin Towers.

ANGEL YIN: 100% steel. There is that cave. I'm a little scared.

NELLY KORDA: I went to the Pavilion Mall on Monday and I thought it was the biggest mall I've ever seen. I was very overwhelmed.

ANGEL YIN: What is there to do? A lot of mix of culture, which is really cool. It's like Singapore on steroids, no?

Q. (Indiscernible.)

ANGEL YIN: And much bigger. I mean, you give us a list, I'll do it.

Q. You guys both made practice rounds?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, we played the pro-am already.

Q. You were talking about the course, saying it looks familiar like back home and all that.

ANGEL YIN: For her home.

Q. Okay. Nelly, I think you finished (indiscernible) the last time you played here?

NELLY KORDA: Possibly.

Q. And you were saying that you like coming here.

NELLY KORDA: Uh-huh. I really enjoy playing -- for me it's like a lot about weather too. And the grass. I enjoy playing on bermudagrass, what I grew up on and I played pretty much my whole life on. I enjoy warm, humid weather.

Q. There is a bit rain in the air the last couple days.

NELLY KORDA: That's just a summer's day in Florida, too.

ANGEL YIN: I'm a spoiled brat from California who only likes to play in perfect wherever. No rain, nothing, no breeze. No. Everything has to be 70 degrees.

Q. The forecast is the rain will be gone by the time the tournament starts.

NELLY KORDA: That's good. Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thanks, girls.

NELLY KORDA: Thank you.