Q. Really big finish here on your last hole; did you have less pressure knowing you were a few shots back and just really decided to go for it? What was the thought process?
NELLY KORDA: On 18? No, we stuck to the game plan. I hit a really solid drive, and I was trying to make eagle. I wasn't sure. I didn't know that Lilia posted 10-under. I was just trying to go for eagle and see where that led me, really.
Q. You don't take looks at the leaderboard throughout the day?
NELLY KORDA: I do occasionally, but I think the last leaderboard I saw was on 14, so that's a -- maybe even 13, so that's a good bit of stretch where you don't see a leaderboard and you don't really know what's going on behind you or in front of you.
Q. Do you prefer that or do you like to know?
NELLY KORDA: Depends on what mood I'm in. I seem to always kind of look at the leaderboard, so I'm more of a leaderboard watcher.
Q. Overall, I think you've had a couple really high finishes at the Chevron Championship. What do you like about this event, and what makes you play well here?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, every single time I can finish well at a major, put myself into contention, that's what I strive to do. A little sad that I didn't really have my best stuff today. My putter kind of let me down this week a little. Even though I made some really good putts, I also missed some putts that I usually don't.
Overall I have a lot to work on, but for it to be the first major of the year, I think I played pretty well, and hopefully I can build on it. This is my first week out of four, so hopefully I can continue building.
Q. What do you take overall from this first week here, having it in Texas and the reception and what it was like?
NELLY KORDA: The crowds were amazing. The crowds that we have gotten and followed my group were really great. They're treating us really well. I like the golf course, too. I think it's a lot more -- it's challenging. I think the difference between Palm Springs that we played for so long and this golf course is that there's just more water. It's a little bit more wide open, let's say, off the tee, but there are a lot of trees, so you kind of have to play within. The greens are pretty tough, as well. I would say Palm Spring is a little tighter off the tee, but they're both really great golf courses, and I've heard - I'm not sure if this is true - that they're going to be redoing the greens for next year, so we'll see.
Q. It seems like you put yourself in really good positions, but you mentioned putting. Was it just one of those days?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think on 11 or 12, I was just like, it's just not my day today. I've put myself into contention a bunch this year already. I just haven't been able to finish it, which stings, obviously, but I think one of those days, if I keep knocking on the door, it'll eventually open for me.
Q. Some good news: Looks like you'll be back at World No. 1 after this week. That's good stuff.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, amazing. It would have been obviously very nice to win the major, as well, but I think being World No. 1 is very rewarding. All my hard work has paid off, and hopefully continue building, but the No. 1 ranking keeps bouncing back and forth, back and forth. That is something actually I don't really tend to focus on too much. I tend to focus on what's right in front of me, being present this week, this major, but I think the rankings at the end of the day tell you the consistent play you're playing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports