THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to the interview area at the 80th U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally. You just got off the golf course, played nine holes this morning. What's your reaction to the test out there?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's definitely going to test everyone's game, very demanding, so I'm excited to see how this week is going to play out.
Q. What do you think is going to be sort of the characteristics someone needs to tackle Erin Hills?
NELLY KORDA: It's very demanding off the tee with all the bunkers. The bunkers are not easy. Sometimes you just don't even have a stance in them because they're so small.
Then the shots into the greens and also the greens. Just an overall good test of your entire game.
Q. How would you describe your preparations for this major championship compared to the Chevron?
NELLY KORDA: I mean, I played the week before Chevron, so I was a bit more in playing mode. Obviously had two weeks off after Mizuho, so maybe a little bit more rested, I would say.
But other than that, I've been working pretty hard, so I'm excited to see how this golf course is going to test my game.
Q. Can I get your impressions of the 9th hole, the par-3, which in some championships here has been one of the toughest holes on the course?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's a diabolical green for sure, especially if the wind gets up. It's going to be a very interesting test. I wonder how many groups are going to be on the tee box.
But yeah, that's the U.S. Open; it's supposed to test every part of your game. You're supposed to have holes like that. It's a really cool hole because obviously on the green you look at it and you don't see how sloped the green is.
If you look at it just from the tee box, you see it's kind of like a shorter par-3, but it's very, very demanding in every aspect.
Q. Obviously one of the longer hitters on the LPGA Tour but probably putting a premium on accuracy as well as distance this week. Can you talk to speak and what it's going to take to keep the ball in the fairway out here?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, no matter how long you hit it, sometimes on golf courses longer hitters have to thread it a bit more than shorter hitters. It doesn't really matter how far you hit it, it's all about accuracy at the end of the day, especially on a golf course like this.
Q. I enjoyed your Instagram post the other day with the alligator. There won't be any alligators out here, but the wind can be biting. Is it the type of situation where you've got to play different shots, different thoughts on different holes because of the wind?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think weather plays a pretty big role out here, especially with kind of no coverage, no trees to block it. It's kind of a very big open field. When it gets windy out here, it's really going to play with your golf ball.
It's just kind of seeing what the day has in store and having a game plan for it.
Q. Late last year, Justin Thomas said that one of the hardest things in golf is to play when everyone knows that you're going to potentially contend and/or win. Do you subscribe to that? Do you believe in that? Is that something you think about?
NELLY KORDA: Not necessarily, I don't try and think about it. Definitely when you're a higher ranked player or you're more popular there is more pressure on you just from outside perspective when it comes to media, fans coming out it to watch you play.
If you want to feel it, you will feel it, but I think what's really important is just kind of sticking to your game plan and being really focused on what you're doing present time, and that's really helped me.
Q. Was that something that you had to develop over time? Was that a thought process that you started golf with or started professional golf with, or is that something you've worked on?
NELLY KORDA: I think the more you're put in under-pressure moments and the more you're in contention, you learn more about yourself and how to handle those situations.
Every year something has tested me, and every year I learn a little bit more about myself and how to handle myself in some situations. So yeah, I think it's all about putting yourself into that position.
But at the end of the day, you're the one that put yourself there, and you have to be grateful that you are in that spot, and you kind of have to just enjoy even the pressure.
Q. What are the differences in preparation for a course like this, somewhat more modern, versus some of the more classics you've been at for this event the last few years?
NELLY KORDA: I mean, I prep the same way. I try to play for misses. I try to work my way around the greens and try to figure out just lines off the tee.
My preparation is very simple, and I do the same thing every single week.
Q. You had mentioned every year you learn something about yourself. What have you learned about yourself and your game so far this year, and how do you feel about the way your year has gone up to this point?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's been a very interesting year for me. Definitely have had a bit of good and a bit of bad. Kind of a mix in kind of every event that I've played in.
I would say just patience is what I've learned and kind of going back home and really locking in and practicing hard.
Q. Speaking of patience, I wanted to ask you what you've learned over the years about the role patience plays in this particular event.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's big. Some weeks it's so much easier to be patient than others. It just depends on kind of the mindset and how you're feeling mentally. But it plays a really big role. Sometimes you can get ahead of yourself, and as I've said in the past, staying in the moment is really, really important for me.
Patience is definitely a big word in big events.
Q. The LPGA had some big news last week. I'm wondering if you've had a chance to talk to Craig Kessler, and what are your impressions?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I've briefly talked to Craig. I'm excited for the role that he's going to play and for the future of the LPGA. I think he's a great person from the interactions that I've had with him. He has so much energy, so much positivity that I think it's going to be really good for the LPGA.
Q. Did you give him any advice on what you'd like to see him do first?
NELLY KORDA: I think we'll sit down and talk a few more times. I just met with him really briefly. But I think maybe at KPMG we'll see each other. I don't know, I think his first day is mid-July. So I'm sure that he has a lot on his plate right now and we'll catch up.
Q. You've had 10 U.S. Open starts. Hard to believe, I would imagine. Talk about your relationship with this major and the ups and downs in the tournaments you've played over the years.
NELLY KORDA: Oh, yeah, lots of ups and downs. I mean, it's the biggest test in the game of golf. Definitely has tested me a lot. I love it.
At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do is to play these golf courses in these conditions, to test our games in every aspect. Not even just our games, our mental, as well.
I enjoy it, and I'm excited to see what this week is going to bring.
Q. Your play here can obviously affect Susan G. Komen breast cancer research. Why is that important to you?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, any way that I can help out raise awareness and give back, I'm the first person to do that.
Q. Is there a characteristic of this golf course that separates it from other major venues that you've participated?
NELLY KORDA: I mean, every major is unique in its own aspect. We played Pebble Beach, we played Lancaster last year. They're all just so different.
I think it just tests -- at the end of the day, it just tests every part of your game.
Q. It's a long commute for most people. I'm curious if you're staying in the Milwaukee area, how you balance your time this week being way out here?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I'm saying in a house probably 15, 20 minutes away, so not that bad. But it's so pretty. I'm staying on a lake and it's a nice little getaway.
And my parents came with me. Usually they get in on Wednesday, but they've been with me here all week, so it's been nice, too.
Q. This golf course will have 10 USGA championships by the year 2039. What is it about this venue that you think makes it worthy of such a full slate?
NELLY KORDA: I just think it's very -- it tests every part of your game. It's very demanding. It's firm. It's fast, as well. Even if you think you've hit it good, you just can never -- you can exhale when you see it stop. I would say even the weather plays a big role with the shots out here, with the putts.
I think it's a great big hitter's golf course, but it's just demanding in every aspect.
Q. How would you assess the setup that you've seen so far from your practice rounds, and have you tried hitting from some of the different tee boxes?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I've hit from every tee box, and I think it's fair. There's some par-5s that are gettable. There's some par-5s that have two tee boxes, some par-3s have two tee boxes.
I think that they have a lot of options depending on weather, as well, and I think it's just going to play fair.
Q. Do you have a LEGO project this week you're working on?
NELLY KORDA: No LEGOs, just a book.
Q. Obviously you talked about wind and weather going to be a factor here. What's the key to your game when it is a little bit windy and wet?
NELLY KORDA: Ball flight, starting target, and just dial in on really small targets.
Q. When you're looking at that ball flight, are you trying to go lower, skiddier run-out, or what's the thought process?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I naturally already have a little bit of a lower ball flight. I tend to control a lot of my shots. You won't see me kind of rip a lot of my shots. A controlled driver, too, I have that in my bag. A lot of lower ball flighted shots that don't get affected by the wind too much.
Q. What's the book?
NELLY KORDA: It's the third series in the Powerless series, third book in the Powerless series.
Q. Have you read the first two then?
NELLY KORDA: Yes, of course. I would not go straight to the third. (Laughing).
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