Q. Slow start, your right there, what did you take from all that?
NELLY KORDA: After the start, I would have taken 2-under with the conditions today. So I'm just going to look at the positives of that other than the negatives.
Q. 7, seemed like you weren't happy with where you were off the tee.
NELLY KORDA: Why would I be happy 20 yard right off the tee?
Q. You're looking at considering going straight up top to short grass or taking on --
NELLY KORDA: My ball was kind of sitting up but it had a lot of grass behind it and, I had 190 to the hole. So I hit a 7-iron but the grass in front of it just kind of pulled my clubface down and pulled it through.
I'm happy with the way the hole played out, but you know what I mean, that's just golf. You're going to hit bad shots.
Q. How much of a spark did that give you?
NELLY KORDA: It was nice. I mean, obviously I was back to even after that. After hitting my first ball -- or second ball of the day in the water, and then making an unfortunate six on a par 5 that, you know, I could go for in two.
So my goal was to turn -- after that, was to turn under par and I did, and after that, you know, it's tough out here. Like the wind is blowing a lot more than it is. These fairways are tight. I mean, you're starting it over rough and you're hoping to get a good bounce even on the fairway.
So I'm happy with the way that the day played out after the start that I had. Obviously I wish I could take 17 back but I can't. I have six 3-putts this week, and that's just the reality. I'm not going to be sad about it. I'm just going to go to the putting green right now and try to bounce back tomorrow.
Q. When the ball is in the air on 15, the way you reacted to it --
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, because the water hole, yeah. Because that was definitely not where I was trying to go. We were trying to go middle of the green, and I actually said -- I was like, where are you going and that's exactly what my caddie said to me after, too. He said, "Where are you going? I know you're good enough to hit it where we talked about."
Q. Were you ever gifted something like that from fan --
NELLY KORDA: I got a keychain that same guy gave me going down to the first tee and that's on my bag, a Pikachu. I dressed up at Pikachu when I was little for Halloween.
Q. Was today the hardest so far?
NELLY KORDA: Yesterday was hot, a little windy but today was a little chillier, and obviously a lot windier. So all that plays a part. Like I think that's kind of what we misjudged on No. 1 is this wind is very heavy. I've played in like windier condition but there's just -- sometimes you're playing countries where the wind is a little heavier, so it affects the ball a little bit more.
It more just affected my ball on No. 1 a little too much more than we thought it would, and instead of hitting an 8-iron -- instead of hitting a 7-iron, I hit an 8-iron and I just hit it a little too hard.
Q. You started the day, six shots back, did you have any big picture hopes where you would be at the end of the day?
NELLY KORDA: No, just go out there, see what the day would bring me and take it a shot at a type. Obviously I wanted to bounce back after the finish that I had yesterday but sometimes it's harder to bounce back after that kind of finish with, you know, a little bit of a down mentality.
But I tried to stay very positive out there and tell myself there's 36 more holes. We'll see where it goes.
Q. What did you tell yourself with 18 holes left?
NELLY KORDA: Same thing. We'll see how it goes. I'm giving myself a chance. As of right now, I think I'm four back, so anything can happen. Scottie was nine back, or whatever he was at, and he ended up winning.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports