THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 22, 2025

Nelly Korda

The Club at Carlton Woods

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Okay, welcome to the media center at The Chevron Championship. I'm joined by Nelly Korda, defending champion this week at The Chevron Championship.

Just touching back quickly to last year, what are your best memories from last year?

NELLY KORDA: I had quite at chilly jump in the pond at the end. Probably my best memory was jumping into the pond with my entire team. I think that was just a really cool moment for us.

With all the hard work and all the chatter around it possibly be my fifth in a row, just having like that moment together was just so much fun.

Q. I know obviously played really well here last year. Really like this golf course; finished T4 the year before. For you I know it's playing a little softer out there this year. How do you make those adjustments?

NELLY KORDA: I have not seen the golf course yet so I cannot talk to how the golf course is playing. I got in yesterday afternoon from LA.

I know that they have received a bit of rain throughout the past week, so, yeah we'll see how the golf course is playing. If it's playing longer, maybe the last year the greens were newer so weren't as receptive.

I can't talk to how the golf course is playing just yet.

Q. But you can talk about the champion's dinner last night. How enjoyable was that whole experience, picking the menu, having your Czech flavor, working with Thomas Keller?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it was so much fun. Chef Keller was so great to work with. Having all of us together in the room, the past champions, sat at the table with Juli Inkster and she's always so much fun to be around.

Just all of us getting together was just so great. Then obviously getting to work with Thomas Keller was a dream come true, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Q. When you come to a course like this where you've already had success, when you go out there this afternoon or tomorrow, are there things that you and your caddie can breeze over or do you still go about it the same way?

NELLY KORDA: Every year that I've played a golf course, no matter how many times I've played it, I feel like it played so different with maybe the winter they've had and the way the golf course is playing with the weather maybe.

As I said, I heard they got a good bit of rain before. I don't think I've ever played a golf course where it's played the same the year prior to the year we're at, so going around, seeing how the greens are rolling, seeing if they've change add couple tees.

Sometimes that's what they like to throw in. They like to make the golf course longer or a little bit more interesting.

So trying to definitely just plot our way around and seeing our game plan for the week is going to be. It's just going to be the same like it was every week even if it was a new golf course.

Q. Four in a row coming in here last year. You're still playing incredibly solid. Still No. 1.

NELLY KORDA: Uh-huh.

Q. Are there things in your game this week that need to click to defend your championship?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think I saw some improvements in my game last week with my irons. Definitely felt a little bit more comfortable with that.

Then just need my putter to click a little bit more to make those putts. I think that's where it's been lacking, is the putts that I was making last year I'm just not making as many this year.

But I that's just golf. I've gone through waves like this before, and if I just continue working at it, hopefully it does click.

Q. So first starting out, world No. 1 once more going into the first major of the year for LPGA; of course holding your title last year here at Carlton Woods. How do you intend to keep the same momentum from last year to this year?

NELLY KORDA: I would say last year is last year. This is a brand new year. What I achieved last year no one can take that from me. That's always going to be such a great memory, but it's a fresh week and fresh mindset.

I just have to kind of put that aside, what I did last year, and know that the golf course could be playing different. It's a different field. So going out there and preparing, you know, the best that I possibly can, control what I can control, give it my all is all that I can really do.

Q. Then of course going into the string of tournaments you've been going into from the start of the season up until now and then based on how you perform this week here at Carlton Woods, how do you expect the rest of the season to go for you, not just for your golf game, but mentally going into the CME Group Tour Championship at the end of the season?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, you know, my mindset every week is one shot at a time and that's kind of what I have always had. Not going to look too far ahead and definitely not going to reminisce about the past because the past is the past. It's not going to really help me in the future or present.

So just going to stay very present.

Q. Congratulations on your win in 2024.

NELLY KORDA: Thank you.

Q. What would you say is the most fulfilling aspect of golf to you?

NELLY KORDA: I think it's definitely changed every year, but right now I would say there is two different sides to it. One is seeing all the little kids come out and say that we inspire them to pick up the game of golf and knowing that the game of golf is heading in the great direction with seeing all the little kids picking up the game.

Two is my team. I love them so much. And then for us being together, no matter the ups, the downs, like we just all stick together, we grind through it.

Q. And for my last question, with all the accolades you have earned throughout the years, what do you feel the most pressure with being like that you're returning, you have so many titles? Like what's the pressure? Like how do you feel pressure?

NELLY KORDA: I would say that -- and you've heard it in the past -- but pressure is a privilege. For me to be in this position, I try to soak it up and try to enjoy every single moment of it. That just means that all the hard work I put in has paid off. I just try to enjoy the moment and try to stay in my own little bubble when it is time to start.

Q. You mentioned the chatter last year around your win. Obviously handled that very well and there is always chatter around whatever you're doing. We take you down these rabbit holes when you come in here. How do get away from that chatter and tune out that chatter when you leave us?

NELLY KORDA: We do such a great job as a team. We just really stay in the moment, and when we're out there, sometimes we barely talk about golf. We just talk about our own life, what we're going through you're welcome funny stuff we have seen on social media, what other people have done.

We keep it really light and that's what I love about the team so much. Sometime we just don't even talk about golf. I think that's what kind of takes me away from it.

And then my parents will come in today so having them staying with me is always really nice. Going to make my dad do LEGOs with me this week. Maybe do some games. We both are really competitive. Something we always played together, Sequence. I think I am going to pick that up. Stuff like that gets my mind off it.

Q. What kind of LEGOs are you building this week?

NELLY KORDA: Last week I got a McLauren gifted from a fan, which was really cute, and I did I think Simba I think.

Q. You mentioned you haven't seen the course yet, but you're expecting it to be much different. When you go out there, what are you looking for when you and your team are talking about golf?

NELLY KORDA: I would say how soft the golf course is, how receptive the greens are, how fast the greens are.

But today is pro-am day so I can't practice during the round today with our new regulations. I'll probably go out and play 18 tomorrow. I'm not used to this. Usually I'll play nine, nine, nine, but since I didn't get in until late yesterday and we had the champions dinner I didn't get to play nine yesterday.

I'll play 18 tomorrow to really scope out the golf course.

Q. How did the dumplings turn out?

NELLY KORDA: They were great. The whole meal was amazing. I was so full by the end of it. It was amazing.

Q. Two rookies have won on Tour this year. If you go back to 2017, I know you had five Top 10s and your first win in 2018. How do you play with the kind of confidence that you did when you first came out on Tour and you see in the rookies now?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think in a sense like whether or not you're a rookie you have nothing to lose. You have no scar tissue. You just go out and enjoy the moment. You're so grateful to be out here. It's your rookie year; every golf course is new.

You're enjoying every moment. Not saying that a couple years down the road you're not doing the same thing. I feel like you maybe don't have as much scar tissue in a sense.

It's great for them. Like I didn't win my rookie year. It's so hard to even just win out here. For them to come out and ball out like that, props to them.

But I would say there is a different mindset being your rookie year versus being a little bit after veteran out here.

Q. ...all the responsibilities that you have as a defending champ, while trying to prepare and play just best golf?

NELLY KORDA: I think I enjoy it. I know that I have my priorities. My priority at the end of the day is to prepare the best I possibly can to defend. So that always comes first.

If I have time for anything else I'll do it. But my priority is always my golf.

Q. What do you remember as standing out last year as being challenging about this golf course?

NELLY KORDA: As I said, I think the greens were a little newer. That's what they redid the year before. They were just a little firmer and bouncier, so making sure you're landing in the correct spot for it to release.

Then the weather played a pretty big difference. I think it was a little colder throughout the entire week. We had a couple rain delays. So I actually played I don't know how many holes I played on the last day. But I had to finish my third and fourth round on Sunday as well.

So I think all of that plays a little bit of an aspect to how difficult the course can play.

Q. And a lot of fans here in Houston excited to come out and watch you play. What do you remember about the support that you received last year from this community?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it was so much fun to play in front of all the fans last year. This tournament always gets such an amazing crowd with the little ones, too. My favorite thing about this event is how long our lines were for autograph alley. That's what I enjoy the most about playing week in and week out.

No matter how bad of a day you had, like last day I finished with a double on the last day and everyone was like you played is a great. I'm here having a tear running down my face. Dumped it into the water on 18. It's just a different perspective.

I just love playing in front of them, and for them to say that I'm such a big inspiration to them brings a whole different perspective, too.

Q. Last night's champion's dinner, compared to Scottie Scheffler's menu, a little bit more luxury. Levelled up there. What do you think was the favorite last night?

NELLY KORDA: I mean, it was really funny. Everyone, after even single meal, doesn't matter if it was the caviar, the cream of mushroom soup, I just kept getting this (clapping) great job with. Yeah, I was in the back making this all day for you guys.

Chef Keller was amazing. Super easy to work with too. I definitely wanted to bring in my heritage with the dessert. So proud to be an American but also super, super proud of my roots. So I want to bring that back in, too.

Q. Can you share any stories from the dinner last night? It's kind of an intimate gathering.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, no, I sat at a table and Juli Inkster, Lexi, Pernilla, right next to me too, and Lilia. So I think just amongst the table we were sharing stories, but no one really came up to the front and shared some stories.

It's such a great group because you get all the past champions, first winner of this tournament coming in, and then you have Amy Alcott who started the tradition of jumping into the pond.

So you get everyone in a group which you never get; it's just such a fun setting.

Q. How happy are you that Chevron is so welcoming of the past champions and bringing kind of that community together?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, Mike and Julie have done an amazing job. Obviously I know a lot of people were sad leaving Palm Springs, Mission Hills, all the traditions there.

They've really, really stepped it up and made sure that this event has traditions, and for them to be this dedicated to it, I mean, props to them. I can't wait to see where this tournament goes under their leadership.

Q. What was your expectation jumping into the water last year? Was it cold? And would you do it again?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I would 100% do it again, but I was last one in, first one out. Once my feet hit the ground I was like oh my God, this is so slimy. I'm getting right out. Definitely not as clear as it was back in Palm Springs, but traditions have to live on.

Q. Going to be playing with the ANWA winner Carla Bernat Escuder in one the pro-ams. Just wondering in your opinion how pivotal is it you got some opportunities in majors as an amateur?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, getting that experience under your belt, walking on to the range and seeing all the best players in the world, like as a 14 year old when I qualified for my first U.S. Open, that was kind of the first thing that I noticed was obviously you're very intimidated. I feel like the more I played out here the more comfortable can I got.

So I think for them to get that experience under their belt and show off their great game and be a little bit more comfortable for them is a great experience.

Q. Just a quick question: What's the most important thing to you when it comes to prepping for a major? Do you do anything differently or do you treat it like any other competition?

NELLY KORDA: I like to have the same mindset for every single event. I don't like to do anything a little bit extra for majors. I feel like that puts a little bit more pressure on yourself. You're always putting a little bit more pressure.

So I just try to prep for every one the same exact way so I'm in a routine and comfort zone.