FM CHAMPIONSHIP

August 26, 2026

Nelly Korda

TPC Boston

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome to the media center at the 2026 FM Championship. We are joined by world No. 1 Nelly Korda. Nelly, just wrapped up the pro-am here. Obviously played here last year as well. What are your thoughts on TPC Boston after seeing it this week?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's in really good shape. I know that they had a lot of rain on Sunday so the golf course is a little softer than kind of what I remember last year, so greens are definitely a little bit more receptive. But overall the golf course is very green and lush.

THE MODERATOR: Obviously on Monday, too, we wrapped up with the U.S. Solheim Cup team naming those picks. Just what's it been like to have those 12 now and see the complete team?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's great. Now it's real. Now it's time to get ready after this week for the Netherlands and to represent our country.

There is no greater feeling, especially stepping on to that first tee box. We had a great team dinner on Monday with Ang and all the assistant captains and all the players. We're all really looking forward to going over the pond and representing our country and hopefully bringing back the Cup.

THE MODERATOR: What's it been like to work with Angela in this leadup? I know she talked a lot about leaning on veterans and getting your opinions. So what's it been like working alongside her?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, Ang has been great. I feel like she's just been very vocal about wanting all of us to work together and making sure that no one is really left out, that we all feel like a team out there no matter what.

Even the assistant captains, they've all been great. So far the vibes have been really great in the team and with Ang being a great captain. I mean, I've been lucky enough to be on a couple Solheims. Everyone has their kind of own way of going about things, as they should.

But Ang is just very relaxed, one with the players, understands our year is long and during tournaments we're there to compete in the tournament and she knows that we're going to give it our all in the Netherlands, but also she is just very upbeat about the whole experience.

I heard her talking like that being the captain is the pinnacle of her career, and you can actually see it. She's kind of like glowing when she talks about it. To me, that already is like a great energy before Solheim, and it's fun to play for.

Q. Nelly, you make golf look so easy.

NELLY KORDA: Oh, thank you.

Q. What would you tell to a young girl who is picking up a club for the first time?

NELLY KORDA: That's it's actually not easy. No, just that there is so many great things that come from golf. You know, if you do it for -- you can play it for almost your whole life. You can create so many great relationships out on the golf course. Some of your best friends, too.

You also understand what you need to do out there. Like you have to make sure that you are spending enough time in each part of your game. So I would say that golf teaches you a lot about golf obviously, but also about life.

It's just a great sport. But also to never get discouraged because everyone has bad days. We all hit bad shots. I chunked a shot on 17. I hit bad shots, too.

So no matter how good you feel that you are, like you're still going to hit bad shots. You're still going to have bad days. But never get discouraged, and if you have the love for it, just keep going.

Q. Thank you.

NELLY KORDA: No problem.

Q. Want to ask about the competitiveness of the field. 23 of the top 25 are here. Is there something you can attribute that to, that the FM Championship is able to draw such an impressive field?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah. I think there is definitely areas to what the FM I think elevates the game, right? They elevate the player experience. When you talk about purse, too, it's one of our larger purses as well. That usually always draws a bigger field.

But it's also about the way that they treat their players. And we know that FM has invested a lot into the LPGA, and we want to show up for them as they've shown up for us.

Q. And with it being such a competitive field at this point in the season, does that have any impact on you? Not that you're ever going to let up on the gas, right, but just not even catching another break going into Labor Day and then the Solheim Cup where it might be thinned out a little bit, does it affect at all how you approach this week?

NELLY KORDA: No, definitely not. For me, I give it my all every week, every time I tee it up. Scheduling at the beginning of the year when I look at what tournaments I want to play and where I want to rest, you know, no matter what, the week I'm teeing it up I'm giving it 100%, yeah.

Q. I had one more. Not sure if you've seen the Callaway ad, the Good Good drama at all.

NELLY KORDA: Uh-huh.

Q. I am curious from your seat, world No. 1, one of the most famous female golfers in the world, did you have any reaction to it? And also what do you think about the reaction around both the internet and in real life?

NELLY KORDA: If I'm being completely honest, I barely follow any golf accounts on my social media. I have not seen the ad. I have seen headlines about the ad.

So I can't give my two cents on it.

But, yeah, I mean, that's pretty much my response. Yeah, I have not seen it.

Q. Good for you. Because it's all over my feed and I can't get away from it.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, when I step outside of the golf course I don't really want to think about golf, so when I'm on social media I kind of step away from my reality a little bit.

Q. Probably a healthy approach to the sport.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, uh-huh.

Q. I know after the major season, I think everybody, the entire Tour takes a collective breath. Curious what did you did with a little bit of time away after AIG just to recover from a crazy stretch of golf?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah. Well, the first week I didn't even pick up a golf club. Just kind of enjoyed my life at home a little bit, a little bit of normalcy, which is kind of nice for us when we live out of a suitcase for a month or something. And then on top of it with all the stress of major golf is a lot.

So the first week I just honestly didn't do anything. Went to the gym a couple times. Had a couple me moments where I went to like a Pilates class which I normally don't get to do where it wasn't golf driven in a sense.

The second week was definitely out grinding. No matter what I still want to perform. It doesn't matter what part of the season, if it's at the beginning, middle, end, I want to be mentally fresh and I also want my game to perform.

So I practiced a lot and got ready for Canada, Boston, and then don't really have too much time off after this and we head to the Netherlands. That's also fuel in itself.

Q. I felt like you in the 2024 Solheim Cup really was kind of shown as a leader. It's sure a little bit odd to be one of the more veteran players on the Solheim Cup.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I'm getting old.

Q. Same here. What has it meant to you to step into maybe a quote/unquote leadership role and really be looked to by your peers those weeks? Do you feel like you enjoy that or do you kind of just play it off?

NELLY KORDA: I definitely enjoy it. I mean, I feel like we only have two rookies on Tour. We have Lindy, but she's a vet on Tour. She's gone through so much. I think already that week we have a lot of experience. Everything, when it comes to Solheim Cup is about experience.

I feel like being over the pond and not having the fan base that let's say we had when we played over here, we have to lean on each other a little bit more. That's kind of what I learned through playing in Solheim Cups.

But I feel like everyone on that team is very vocal and comfortable with each other, that we can all lean on each other and kind of all feel like leaders. I feel like it's better when it's all equal so no one feels like the big dog in a sense and we're all just there to have fun and play for our country.

Q. Speaking of Solheim Cup, our European captain just made a really cool announcement this morning. I know you and Anna have got to know each other over the years. I saw Jess made a really nice comment. I'm sure you have intensions to as well. Just reaction to Anna's retirement news.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I was shocked. I did not know that she was going to retire this week. I sent her a text after congratulating her and wishing her the best of luck in her next chapter this her life.

She's a very passionate player. She is so much fun to watch. This is my tenth year out here, so gotten to experience playing with Anna and her passion and competitiveness.

But she's had an amazing year and -- sorry, amazing career, and I am really looking forward to what she does next.

THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Thank you for your time.

NELLY KORDA: Thank you.