ISPS HANDA WOMEN'S SCOTTISH OPEN

July 23, 2025

Nelly Korda

Dundonald Links

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links. What are your impressions of the course so far?

NELLY KORDA: It's great. Definitely a little bit wet compared to maybe the links I'm used to with it being firm, but I know that they have received a lot of water over the past couple weeks. Definitely on the softer side but it's beautiful. Sometimes you get all four seasons in one day with Scottish weather. But so far we've been really lucky with our weather.

THE MODERATOR: What's your experience with links and do you enjoy it?

NELLY KORDA: I really enjoy it. It's a different type of golf. You've just got to take it how it is, and you never know what kind of weather you're going to get.

But it's fun. You get really creative hitting different types of shots, hitting it a lot lower, trying to take the spin off the ball. It's definitely a lot of fun playing links golf, and mixing it up.

THE MODERATOR: You talk about the weather and creativity. How do you prepare for a week like this?

NELLY KORDA: Just have to take it how it is. Just play golf. I mean, you don't know what kind of positions you're going to be, what kind of lies you're going to have and what shots you're going to have to hit. I think everything technical or what you have a game plan goes out the window and you just go out and play golf.

Q. First time in the Scottish Women's Open. A big event in its own right. Are you looking one eye next week, as well, coming here?

NELLY KORDA: I try to stay really present in the moment. You know, it's my first time playing this. I've never played links-style golf heading into The Open. So we'll see how it goes. But usually I just try to stay in the moment and focus what's on hand, the first tee shot tomorrow and move forward from there.

Q. You look very cold just now.

NELLY KORDA: I'm cold.

Q. A layer light, would you say?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I'm definitely going to go for some more players. As a Florida girl, I'm not used it. But I pack warm, always, for these couple weeks. My suitcases are very heavy.

Q. Have you played in Wales before at all?

NELLY KORDA: No. First time, yeah.

Q. The unknown for two weeks?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, since I've joined the Tour and come over here, the majority of our AIG Women's Opens have been in Scotland. So definitely have been in this area more than Wales or England.

Q. Your LPGA colleagues have been either getting engaged or having trips to Rome. Have you been doing anything exciting?

NELLY KORDA: I stayed over here last week. I went to Prague. Yeah, obviously the longer you are on tour, I mean, the girls are getting to the age where they are getting married, they are getting engaged, having babies. So it's very exciting to see that and see people enter a new part of their life.

Q. Is there any reason you have not played this event before, or is it just a scheduling issue?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, scheduling. Honestly it depends on like when Evian is, if the courses are shut in the summer in Florida, you know, with it being July, like all the courses in my hometown are shut for the entire month. So there's really no point going home.

So I really wanted to play this event this year, and it just kind of worked out perfectly. Everything for me is always kind of scheduling.

Q. On that point, Scottie said last week playing an international schedule is not a priority for him and he doesn't feel like it's a responsibility. Do you kind of feel the same?

NELLY KORDA: I love playing everywhere. This is my 10th year playing on tour, 10th year as a pro. So you know, getting the experience of playing in different countries, seeing their cultures, getting to enjoy that, playing in front of different crowds and different style of golf courses is fun for me.

Q. Is that something you would like to add to your schedule more the next couple of years?

NELLY KORDA: For me, it's always about making sure that my schedule flows. So if my schedule flows and I have the proper amount of time to take off for my body, that's at the end of the day the most important. Seeing how events fit here and there, that's how I kind of go about it.

Q. Comparisons have been made between you and Scottie, the way you've dominated. What do you make of what he's continued to do?

NELLY KORDA: He's amazing. Obviously hats off to him, not only is he a great golfer, but just also a great role model, as well, for kids to look up to. I think he's one-of-a-kind. He's just really succeeding at what he's doing. He's enjoying it. He has his values and it's just very exciting to see.

Q. You set a high bar personally last year. Where do you feel it is now halfway through?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, obviously would love to lift a couple trophies by now. But it's golf. You never know what's going to happen. As long as I'm sticking to my process and controlling what I can control, I'm just doing my best.

Q. Ten years is a long time on the Tour. You're young but do you feel a bit of a veteran?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, definitely, I see some girls that are born in 2004, 2003 and I'm like, oh, my gosh. Definitely feel a bit of a veteran out here, but I'm still enjoying it as much as I was my rookie year.

Q. Is it harder each year, the sustained excellence, not easy to keep going, is it?

NELLY KORDA: I think if you enjoy it and you still have the love for it, I mean, it doesn't get harder. You just enjoy being out here.

Q. As the women's game continues to grow, are you surprised there has not been a Women's Masters yet? Is that something you'd like to see?

NELLY KORDA: I think we have our own, great, historic events that we as a tour capitalise on. It's hard to compare. I mean, you continuously compare yourself to other sports, other tours, you kind of never grow, and having something of your own is really important to the LPGA and I think we all have that out here.