THE MODERATOR: All right, very pleased to be joined by both of our defending champions of the Mizuho Americas Open, Nelly Korda, Gianna Clemente.
For both of you, start with you Nelly, what's it like being back here at Liberty National? What kind of memories does to bring back being here?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, only good memories. When it comes to staying in the city and the commute to the golf course, it's such a special event, so to come back this year is really nice.
Obviously only had good memories from last year.
GIANNA CLEMENTE: Yeah, just feel really grateful to be back. I think it's really a special opportunity for the juniors to be able to play kind of combined with the pros. I think it's really cool for us.
Yeah, just grateful to be back and just enjoying the week.
Q. Nelly, obviously coming off hosting The Nelly, an AJGA event, how cool is it now to tee it up with some of the girls you got to mentor and host last week?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it's such a cool two weeks for the girls, last week playing in The Nelly Invitational and having a chance to compete in next year's Chevron major and then obviously this week playing alongside them.
If I was a junior I would be -- I think I would just have such an amazing two weeks. It's such a cool opportunity for them getting to learn from the girls in the field, playing alongside them, and even playing practice rounds with them.
I think that's such a cool experience and a great way for them to grow as players. I think props to the AJGA, Michelle for putting this together.
Q. Gianna, I know you played last week and now get to sit next to Nelly. How cool is it to tee it up against her?
GIANNA CLEMENTE: Yeah, it's really cool. They did such a great job last week at The Nelly Invitational. So much fun, and I had a great time.
Just to be able to, as she said, play practice rounds with them and things like that, just kind of learn from them a little bit while also playing your own very competitive tournament I think is really cool.
Q. Nelly, last week we kind of talked about how difficult and demanding Concession is. What was your reaction to seeing players like Clair Deng and Shauna Liu, the champion, shoot 65s out there?
NELLY KORDA: I was very impressed. I think that golf course, I mean, there are days that I struggle out there. I've said that my first round back after an offseason I shot 80 a couple times.
For them to come out and dominate on such a great golf course shows how great their game is.
Q. Shauna is here, Gianna, Clair. Do you find yourself as a role model for the players, and what advice do you find yourself giving them the most lately?
NELLY KORDA: To be honest, I just feel like yesterday I was playing AJGA's. For me I just go about my thing and try to always be a authentic.
Something this I've always approached is to kind of follow your own path. Not compare yourself to others. I mean, it's a marathon, not a sprint, so to always just do everything that you're doing at 100%.
Q. And Gianna, you had the chance to play at The Chevron Championship this year. How was competing against those big LPGA girls, and has it made you more comfortable here this week?
GIANNA CLEMENTE: Yeah, that was a really cool experience for me. My first major. It was just really special. I had my dad on the bag and we just really tried to take it all in.
I think I'll definitely remember that for a really long time. To be able to make the cut was really cool too and be low am.
Had a great week a couple weeks ago. Yeah, just looking forward to another one.
Q. Gianna, you've had all these experiences to kind of compare your game to people like Nelly and these professional athletes on the LPGA. For you, how invaluable is that experience to really get that exposure on this level?
GIANNA CLEMENTE: Yeah, I think it's priceless experience. I'm really grateful for the exemptions I've been able to get so far and hopefully a couple more will come year.
It's really amazing to be able to play. I was lucky enough to play kind of three weeks in a row a couple years ago and I was 14 at the time, so I think I was a little overwhelmed at first.
Now I'm a lot more comfortable with it paragraph yeah, just really about taking it all in. I know that I want to be a professional someday so this is hopefully my future which is cool.
Q. What did this win at this event do for your confidence last year?
NELLY KORDA: I mean, it was a huge win for me. It's just a really competitive atmosphere. Obviously playing with the pros and playing with Nelly is bit different than playing in a regular AJGA.
It was really fun. It's kind of different not playing with your playing competitors. You're playing with people playing in a completely different event. That's a little unique.
It's really cool and I had a great time last year. Even in the really tense moments it was still really fun.
Q. Nelly, you use your platform to grow golf every week. To be able to do that here at the Mizuho Americas Open with the AJGA and here, how much does that mean to grow game for girls like Gianna?
NELLY KORDA: It's my favorite thing about golf and the position I'm in, is inspiring the next generation and making sure that when I leave the sport it's in really good hands.
I know with my platform, with the AJGA and playing in events like this, I mean, you're kind of inspiring the next generation. You're making sure the sport is in good hands.
For me it's very fulfilling.
Q. What's your game plan this week at a probably a little bit damp Liberty National?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I played both the nines so far, and for me the game plan is always one shot at a time.
Q. Nelly, when you have a season like you had last year as incredible as it was, what are the challenges of managing expectation when you start back up again in the next season?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, this year is my tenth year as a professional which is crazy to think. Every year has been so different and that's kind of the way I look at it.
Not to compare your years to your previous years. There is new competition every year. There is different weather. So making sure that I'm prepared and mentally 100% is kind of the way I go about it.
Q. You and Scottie had very similar years last year. He started the year without winning and obviously just broke through the other day. Do you pay attention to that tour at all? I don't know if you speak to any of those guys.
NELLY KORDA: No.
Q. Do you take anything from that? Just kept his head down, been playing well. You have been, but haven't won yet. How do you assess the way you've been playing this season?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think this year has been kind of up and down. I've had some really good rounds and iffy rounds as well.
I think it's just the game of golf. It's life. It's up and down. It's going to be -- it's never going to be easy, and when you think you kind of have to figured out, it's just going to humble you really quickly.
Just always stay patient, keep doing what you're doing, and I think what I've just learned is that I'm going to control what I can control and what I can't control I'm kind of going to let go of that and not stress about it.
Just go about my business.
Q. Out of Chevron, what did you take from rallying from the tough start? Does that mean anything leading into in week for you.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, for me, golf is always kind of a grind, so for me it grind that out in the second round and really dig deep, I mean, that's something I can grow from and hopefully use that momentum as well.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you guys for your time.
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