Q. Here with Nelly Korda after her final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. 7-under day; great job.
NELLY KORDA: Thank you.
Q. Just tell us about the day and how fun it was to be in the chase again in your first event back?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I love it. This is what I love about golf, being in the hunt on a Sunday going down the back nine. Yeah, I mean, I played well. I wish I had a couple of those putts back this week.
I three-putted 9 twice for par, and when you kind of think about it that way, you're never going to be happy with the outcome.
But I think first week back, get into contention and play well, there is never anything bad about it. Definitely wish I had a couple of those putts back.
Q. How are you feeling about your game overall, especially as you head back home next week to defend?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, pretty good. I mean, definitely some areas where I feel like I need to kind of tighten up, some loose ends. Overall I think I can't complain about the state of my golf game right now.
Q. So will you like take a little bit of time off at all tomorrow or will you go straight to the golf course?
NELLY KORDA: No, I'll go out to the golf course tomorrow, just play like a light nine holes. I have a thing where I don't really practice when I'm at tournaments. Like my practice is done before my events.
I'll go play holes when I'm doing my practice rounds. I'll putt really lightly or do other stuff I need to do, but never have a grind session at tournaments.
So I'll just go out and play nine and see how the golf course looks, how it's playing, and call it a day. Going to be a pretty short day.
Q. How long is the commute?
NELLY KORDA: Like 45 to 50 minutes for me. So not that close. I grew up probably 15 minutes away but I was never a member out there growing up. I've actually played out of a golf course called Sara Bay, which they're Donald Ross golf courses, so similar.
Bradenton Country Club was always a golf course I played my U.S. Open qualifiers at, though, so last year was like, Ah, PTSD, playing 36 holes here.
Q. Stress.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, exactly. But it's nice to be so close to home. I'm sure my parents don't complain when the golf course is ten minutes away from their backyard.
Q. The driver, will you keep the old driver in the bag this coming week?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, I'll try and test the Qi35 a little bit more at the beginning the week maybe. I've just been more comfortable with the Qi10. I've had more success with it.
On top of that I do have six or seven weeks off after these two events to kind of dial it in as well.
Q. Will you take time off after next week and not touch a club?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, probably a week or week and a half, but I'm going to play the Seminole Pro-Member, so that's cool. I really enjoy playing that.
So not too much time off because I don't want to show up too rusty for my partner there.
Q. Who is your partner?
NELLY KORDA: John Waldron.
Q. How many years have you played in that?
NELLY KORDA: Third year with; second time with John, though.
Q. Great round. You just seemed to remain so calm and cool on the back nine today despite trying to make a charge. What's going through your mind and how are you able to do so?
NELLY KORDA: I just tried to plot my way around the golf course. It's never good when you get too ahead of yourself and get antsy and anxious, so I just really took it one shot at time. That's something Social Security Jason always reminds me of as well, you just have to stay very present.
I think that's one way or one tool that I use to really stay calm and present out there.
Q. How cognizant were you of the leaderboard out there?
NELLY KORDA: I'll glimpse at it. From my early days on Tour I would always watch where Jess was, so I think I've always glimpsed at the leaderboard. I didn't really know how I was standing when I was on 18 because the leaderboard was kind of facing towards the grandstand, but I knew that I had to birdie to even have a chance.
But A Lim just played really well this week and props to her. Congratulations on a great victory to her.
Q. You feel like -- you actually did tie her after your birdie at 15. Did you feel like you had a really good chance to surpass A Lim?
NELLY KORDA: On 18?
Q. 15, sorry.
NELLY KORDA: I was just really thinking of one shot at a time. At that point I don't think I even knew we were tied. There was no leaderboard out there. I knew it was going to take a really good round today to catch her.
She had a good shot lead into this Sunday round.
Q. I think this is your fifth Top 4 finish in this tournament.
NELLY KORDA: Uh-huh.
Q. At different venues, so can't just be the course. Is it just the vibe you get from kind of easing with the celebrities the season a little bit?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah it's so much fun to play with Derek Lowe, Kevin Millar, just great individuals to play alongside that keep it kind of easy and light first event back.
I love playing in front of my family. I always feel such a comfort. The first time I played out here it was I think 2016 it was the Gainbridge. I won that year with, so there is just a sense of comfort out here.
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