Deb Vangellow becomes the 2021 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award Recipient
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 – Deb Vangellow, a LPGA Master Professional and Director of Golf Instruction at Riverbend Country Club in Houston, Texas, joins an elite group of her peers as the recipient of the 2021 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award.
The Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, instituted by the LPGA Professionals membership in 1989 to honor the late teaching professional Ellen Griffin, recognizes an individual, male or female, who made a major contribution to the teaching of golf and emulates Griffin’s spirit, love and dedication to students, teachers, teaching skills and the game of golf.
Vangellow honored by LPGA after more than 30 years as teaching professional
“I am so thrilled to be the 2021 LPGA Ellen Griffin Award recipient. I did not know Ellen personally, but have numerous friends who did and shared her inspiring story about the terrific Golf Education Programming she led on ‘The Farm’ in Greensboro, North Carolina,” said Vangellow. “Golf was her subject matter, but she taught people. For Ellen, the frustrations of golf were always overcome by fun. This very thing has been so very instrumental with the wonderful peer group I am so lucky to have who nominated me for this award. These special LPGA Members, many of whom are on this grand list of award recipients, are dear friends I had the fantastic fortune to work with in our LPGA Education Program. I am so grateful for their guidance and support and cherish the 30+ years we had together. Forever friends, for sure! Thank you so much for this award. I will appreciate it forever and will fondly remember Ellen Griffin’s outstanding teaching of golf.”
LPGA Master Professional/PGA Honorary Director Vangellow holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Health/Physical Education/Coaching and Educational Leadership/Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa and Miami (Ohio) University, respectively. A multi-sport athlete who was a scholarship recipient, captain and letter winner in soccer and track & field, Vangellow elected to devote her career path to develop into a top golf educator. Her experiences reflect this endeavor.
Educational professional career of Deb Vangellow in the field of golf
After holding various positions in higher education, Vangellow coached Division I collegiate golf at the University of Northern Iowa and led the American Junior Team that traveled to Europe in 1996 as part of the International Sport for Understanding Program. In 1997, Vangellow was honored as a recipient of the Young Alumni Award at the University of Northern Iowa and was a 3-time LPGA Central Section Teacher of the Year in 2002, 2009, and 2012. She was also named the 2012 LPGA National Teacher of the Year. Vangellow was recently inducted into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame, the UNI School of HPELS Hall of Excellence, and the Fairport High School Hall of Fame.
In addition to teaching men, women, senior and junior golfers of all skill levels individually and in groups at Riverbend Country Club, Vangellow was the first ever National Vice President for the LPGA Professionals membership and served as the elected National President. She was a longtime lead instructor in the LPGA Global Education Program, the industry leading teacher training program for golf professionals in the U.S. and Korea, and is a U.S. Kids Golf Master Teacher. In 2016, she joined the team at Callaway Golf Company as a Master Staff Professional promoting their Women’s Equipment Line.
“Receiving this award is an unbelievable honor, especially to be among so many past recipients I call friends and mentors,” added Vangellow. “I stand on the shoulders of these folks, without a doubt, and feel fortunate to do what I get to do and for the people I have met along the way. I am so grateful for this recognition. Lastly, many thanks to Rolex and the LPGA.”
Past recipients of the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award include: Peggy Kirk Bell, 1989; Linda Craft, 1990; Shirley Englehorn, 1991; Harvey Penick, 1992; Goldie Bateson, 1993; Carol Clark Johnson, 1994; Joanne Winter, 1995; Ann Casey Johnstone, 1996; Dr. DeDe Owens, 1997; Shirley Spork, 1998; Betty Hicks, 1999; Gary Wiren, 2000; Penny Zavichas, 2001; Annette Thompson, 2002; Dr. Barbara B. Smith, 2003; Marjorie Burns, 2004; Pat Lange, 2005; Donna White, 2006; Betsy Cullen, 2007; Lynn Marriott, 2008; Kay McMahon, 2009; Mary Beth McGirr, 2010; Dr. Debbie Crews, 2011; Dr. Betsy Clark, 2012; Kathy Murphy, 2013; Kerry Graham, 2014; Dana Rader, 2015; Pia Nilsson, 2016; Sandy LaBauve, 2017; Jane Frost, 2018; Nancy Quarcelino, 2019; and Renee Powell, 2020.
ABOUT ROLEX
Rolex is the official timepiece of the LPGA and sponsors many of the LPGA’s annual awards, including the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, Rolex Player of the Year, Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award. Rolex honors the LPGA Tour’s Rolex First-Time Winners and is a supporting sponsor of the annual LPGA Professionals National Championship. At tournament sites, Rolex has a presence by providing the official time at selected tournaments and advertises in many event programs. In addition, Rolex is a Global Partner of Solheim Cup and the presenting sponsor of the World Golf Rankings.
ABOUT THE LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive.
Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the three Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries.
Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders and gamechangers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone.
Press Release by the LPGA Professionals Communication
LPGA Professionals member, Cindy Miller gives back in the meaning of Nancy Lopez Award and becomes the 2021 recipient.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 24, 2021 – The LPGA Professionals announced today Cindy Miller as the recipient of the 2021 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award, which recognizes a LPGA Professional who gives back to the game in the spirit of Nancy Lopez.
The Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award was created in 2007 and is given to a LPGA Professional who emulates qualities valued by Lopez: leadership, passion, giving, and approachability. Lopez is a 48-time LPGA Tour winner and four-time Rolex Player of the Year. She was inducted into the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame in 1987 and captained the victorious 2005 U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
LPGA Professionals member recognized for giving back in the spirit of Nancy Lopez
“I first met Nancy Lopez while playing collegiate golf. When I watched her play, it was like watching someone float through the course while making almost every putt she looked at. She became one of the friendliest Tour players I have ever met and has been a hero of mine for a very long time,” said Miller. “She has that special charisma that only a few possess. Her leadership, passion, giving and approachability are qualities I have been striving to emulate my whole career. I am thrilled and honored to receive this award.”
Miller is the current Section President for the LPGA Professionals Northeast section, with a two-term history of serving as the Northeast Section Vice President before that. A member of the ‘Legends of the LPGA,’ Miller is a Certified Behavior, Motivation, and Emotional Intelligence Professional who teaches individuals, teams, and corporations to improve performance and profitability. She also runs a LPGA*USGA Girls Golf site and has written for numerous golf publications as a contributing columnist.
She has also been named a Top-50 Teacher by the Women’s Golf Journal and won LPGA National Teacher of the Year (2010), LPGA Northeast Section Teacher of the Year (2001, 2005, and 2010) and LPGA Northeast Player of the Year (2005 and 2007).
Past recipients of the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award include: Debbie O’Connell (2007), Troy Beck (2008), Patti Benson (2009), Lynn Stellman (2010), Malia Folquet (2011), Suzy Whaley (2012), Marvol Barnard (2013), Angela Aulenti (2014), Teresa Zamboni (2015), Donna White (2016), Sandy LaBauve (2017), Lynn Marriott (2018), Louise Ball (2019) and Dana Rader (2020).
ABOUT NANCY LOPEZ GOLF
The Nancy Lopez Golf (NLG) line provides unprecedented choice to the woman golfer in the selection of golf equipment and apparel. The four-step NLG Match Play Process also provides selection in club configuration to best fit the game of each woman. Nancy Lopez Golf embodies the spirit and energy of women’s golf and of its namesake, Nancy Lopez, who captured the imagination of people everywhere with her remarkable playing career and the genuine warmth of her charm. For more information about Nancy Lopez Golf, visit https://www.NancyLopezGolf.com.
ABOUT THE LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive.
Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the three Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries.
Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders and gamechangers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone.
Press Release transcript by the LPGA Professionals Communication
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, played very well. Played very solid tee to green. I think I only missed three greens, so I played very well and holed the putts and kind of hit it quite close, as well. Yeah, overall a very good day.
Q.Your lowest round since the 2019 Meijer Classic. Has something clicked recently in your game?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Well, I’ve actually been playing quite well recently, just nothing has kind of clicked. Putts haven’t been dropping. So it’s been quite frustrating to be honest. But I’ve kind of had to stay patient, and I knew a round like this was coming, so it was good to see it come out today.
Q.How about conditions out there at Galgorm because it’s different today to earlier in the week?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I played here on Monday, and it’s very different. It was much firmer. It was much softer out there today. It was still running actually more than we anticipated after all the rain yesterday. But it was still, yeah, very different to Monday’s practice round. Just had to adjust.
Q.Massereene tomorrow; what’s the tactics going into tomorrow and how will you have to adjust tomorrow?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, so Massereene was even bouncier than here, so played there on Tuesday and we obviously had a lot of rain yesterday and a little bit this morning. Yeah, it will be a bit different. I’m not really sure what to expect to be honest, so I just have to kind of play it a little cool the first few holes and see how it’s bouncing and just kind of do the same as today.
Q.You played in the 2014 Curtis Cup with Stephanie Meadow, who obviously won here a couple years ago. You didn’t happen to speak to her about this event, did you?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: I didn’t actually but probably should have, got a few tips. But I heard the last time it was here it was really quite soft, which obviously it’s a bit softer now, but on Monday it was playing quite firm, so playing a bit differently I’m sure to a couple years ago.
Gemma comments on what it’s like to be with the guys
Q.How did it feel out there, just being at a tournament with guys? What’s it like?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, it’s very cool. I obviously played the Vic Open a few times, so it’s kind of similar format to that. But it’s really cool actually to see the guys in front of us and behind us. It’s nice to see an innovative event like that.
Q.You shot bogey-free today, which I haven’t seen that on a scorecard yet today.
GEMMA DRYBURGH: I haven’t done that in a while actually.
Q.Do you remember the last time?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: I don’t. Probably maybe when — Josh mentioned the Meijer, 64 there. I think that was bogey-free, so that might have been the last time.
Q.Can you start us out on 1? You opened up with a nice eagle.
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, so that was actually my 10th hole, but yeah, I hit 7-wood in there, just kind of 10 yards on, just a bit left, left center, and rolled nicely to six or seven feet, rolled in for a 3, which was nice.
Q.And then you had five other birdies the rest of the day at 3, 8, 10, 15 and 17. Any one of those in particular that you look back on and that kind of helped the round get going?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: I think — well, the first was nice. We had a bit of a delay on the first hole so I kind of had to refocus a little bit on that hole, so it was nice to get the birdie on that one to start off quite well.
Then yeah, just holed a nice few putts on the other ones. Nothing too long, to be honest. Just kind of the putts that haven’t been going in recently. It was nice to see that.
Q.You talked about just some frustration with the game, but you won back-to-back events last year.
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah.
Q.When you did that and then you have some frustration, what’s it been like to be competing and to have those ups and downs?
GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, it’s been — obviously with COVID it’s been a bit — and with my schedule, I’ve not got into every event, so I think I’ve had six starts on the LPGA so far and just kind of have to take opportunities when you can. It’s hard to get kind of a rhythm going almost when you don’t get into every event. That’s been a bit frustrating. Yeah, I felt like my game has been going in the right direction, so I just kind of had to stay patient, so it was nice to see it pay off today.
Minjee Lee at the final round of the Evian Championship 2021. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy to present our the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship winner Minjee Lee from Australia.
Minjee, congratulations. It’s less than a half hour old, but you’re now a major champion. What does that sound like to you?
MINJEE LEE: I’m speechless. I been waiting for this for so long. It just feels unreal to have won. Just even in the playoff, and all throughout today, I played really well to get myself in that position, and I just really happy.
Q.You did play well. It was an amazing day. You had quite a comeback. We’ll talk about your card first. Let’s start on the front nine. Birdie on No. 1, string of pars, but then birdies on 7 and 9. Tell us about the way your day started.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I hit a really about shot in 1 and I gave myself a birdie opportunity and made that one.
The next couple holes are a little bit trickier for me anyway how it fits my eye. So I had a string of pars, and then I think I birdied like 7 or 8 or something.
Lee needed those birdies…
Q.7 and 9.
MINJEE LEE: 7 and 9, so they were both really good birdies. You know, after nine holes I think I was like one back from the lead so I knew I had to play really well to have a chance to win.
So I just tried to give myself as many birdie opportunities as I could on that back nine, because it was warm out it was playing quite short so I had a lot of short clubs in.
So, yeah, I just tried to give myself as many birdie opportunities as I could.
Q.And then you had another string of pars but then you kind of went birdie crazy at the end, 14, 15, 16, and the clutch one on 18. Walk us through that streak there.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, so I think I birdied the par-3 down the hill, so that was actually quite a long haul. I had a dead straight putt and it went straight in the heart, so it was nice to see it go in.
And then after that was the par-5, which the tee was up again so we could hit it onto the green, and I was just short so I chipped in a putt there.
And then the 16th I hit a really good shot in and it was like three feet from the hole. So that was just an easy kick-in, so that was nice.
I got into a little bit of trouble — well, sort of. I hit it right on 17 and I hit a really good shot in, but my putt passed and made the one coming back, which was nice to see.
And really clutch on 18 to make birdie there, too.
So I finished off really strong and I have every day, so I knew there were birdies finishing. Yeah, that’s pretty much what I did.
Q.So you make the birdie on 18 and then it’s the waiting game.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah.
Q.What was the time on the putting green like? Were you keeping track of what was going on? What was going through your mind then?
MINJEE LEE: You know, I knew one of the two, Yealimi Jeongeun Lee6 was probably going to make birdie. The chances were that I was going to go out in a playoff. I just hit a couple putts, and Hyo Joo and In Gee was right there on the putting green with me, so we just chatted and it was pretty chill until they told us to go to the 18th hole.
Q.And then that 18th hole was amazing for you.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah.
Q.Talk you through those two shots into the green; quite beautiful.
MINJEE LEE: You know, off the tee I didn’t hit the best tee shot, but it was good enough because it was on the fairway. But, yeah, the second shot I hit 6-iron in, but initially I was like, I’m going to — I think the yardage was for 5-iron but with adrenaline and everything Gilly was like, Let’s go 6-iron. Hit a good 6-iron and it was like six feet from the hole. Yeah, no, it worked out.
Q.When you came into this week how were you feeling? Did you think a major championship was at the end for you potentially?
MINJEE LEE: You know, I played really well at Dow. The final day I made two eagles and I think I had like 7- or maybe 8-under that day. I knew I was playing pretty well. You know, I didn’t really come in with too many expectations. Just wanted to kind of play well in this major.
That’s what I did. I didn’t have any other really thoughts in my mind coming into the week really.
Lee talks about the reaction from her family
Q.You’ve already been able to chat with family back home in Australia. What was their reaction?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, they were all cheering for me, but apparently my dad was like, She’s going to get into a playoff and win, so he kind of called it.
But, no, they were really happy and a little bit teary. But, you know, they’re as happy as I am, so, yeah.
Q.Who were you chatting with? Mom and dad?
MINJEE LEE: And my Nan was there, too.
Q.Heard from Min Woo yet?
MINJEE LEE: I’m sure he has, but he’s in America right now. Yeah.
Q.You’re not old, but it seems like you’ve been out here for a long time; so many wins. Was it starting to become any sort of pressure to get a major championship under your belt?
MINJEE LEE: Maybe not — I mean, yes and no. Like I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform, and I hear so many people say, We really want to you win a major and major is just around the corner.
It’s easier said than done, and everybody is so good out here. Yeah, it’s just really nice to have a major title under my belt. No, it’s just — you know, I always have high expectations for myself, so maybe in that sense, yes.
Q.And you joined quite a list of players from Australia. Karrie, Stephenson, and Hannah, who you grew up playing with. What does it mean to you to have your name forever linked with those three?
MINJEE LEE: You know, they’re just all amazing people and amazing golfers, too. You know, it just has a really nice ring to it. Yeah.
Q.While you were waiting out on the putting green you said you were trying to stay chill. What did you do to stay chill and what were you eating?
MINJEE LEE: I kept nibbling on my nectarine, so it must have looked so bad on camera. But I just finished that and then I didn’t really want any of the baguettes. The girls were eating the baguette. Yeah, and I had some water.
Q.How did you stay chill? I wasn’t there to see. Just chatting? Were you putting? Were you listening to music? Were you telling yourself things? How were you keeping yourself in a good state of mind?
MINJEE LEE: I wasn’t like super nervous. I was just pretty calm after. But I think I was more nervous playing the 18th hole, like the first time round.
But I don’t know. I just felt good. I just hit — rolled a couple putts and I was just kind of calm. Yeah.
Q.Minjee, you ended up 6-under on the 18th this week, including the playoff. What about that hole seems to suit you, do you like so much?
MINJEE LEE: Well, it was a par-4 before and then it became a par-5. You know, I think I only had like 6- or at the most 5-iron in, so it’s like a pretty short hole if you drive it on the fairway.
Even on the right side I went for it one time and chipped in for eagle on the second day, I think. So I just think it’s a good finishing hole because everybody has a chance to make birdie and hit it on the green for two. It’s just good for everyone.
Q.Definitely saw a lot of movement there today and I think is certainly what made that last group so exciting watching; you knew anything can happen.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah.
Q.Talk about coming up in golf, how you learned the game. I know you learned from your mom, but the role she has played for you and for Min Woo and coming up and getting where you are in life.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, so when we were really little we used to go down to the driving range with mom when she was teaching. We would just practice. Yeah, so that’s been a really long time since we’ve done that.
And then I got a coach once I got into the, what do you call it, the state program. I’ve been with Richie since then. It’s like I’ve only had two coaches in my whole life, for a long time anyway.
But it’s been great. Mom knows a lot about golf and our whole family played golf, so it’s just like we’ve always been around it. And Min Woo was always really interested more than I was, so it was just kind of — I just followed in everybody’s footsteps I guess playing.
Q.Did you play any other sports?
MINJEE LEE: I swam before, yeah.
Q.Have you heard from Karrie yet?
MINJEE LEE: Actually she did message me straightaway.
Q.You were so poised on the back nine in tough conditions. It was beautiful out, but it’s hot. So much pressure. How did you keep your composure on that back nine, particularly you started off with another string of birdies to keep yourself behind — excuse me, pars.
MINJEE LEE: When I was having those string of pars I think I missed a short one on 10 and then 11 it wasn’t super short.
Then 12 I missed a putt there as well. Going down the 12th fairway, Gilly, my caddie was like, You know, you have a chance to win your first major championship, so why don’t you just like give it a go.
I was like, Yeah, I’m trying. But, yeah, no, we just kind of had that chat and then I was like — the next hole I birdied, so…
Yeah, I don’t know. It was just like just little things. Just little kids smiling or people clapping for you. It’s just nice. I think that’s what really kind of kept me going.
Q.You mentioned Gilly a lot, your caddie, Jason. How much do you rely on him and how long have you been working together and what’s that relationship like?
MINJEE LEE: Already four years now, so maybe just over four. So, yeah, I mean, it’s time that we sort of like know each other really well. Four years have gone by. He knows me really well on the golf course and I know him really well as well.
So I know when — if we’re off, then we know each other so well so we can pick it up straightaway. We were just really happy and happy to be out walking and we were like, Oh, we got so lucky with the weather this weekend.
So we were just really grateful for that, to be honest.
Q.Because this morning was gross.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah? Was it raining a lot?
Q.There was rain, the lightning delay, and then it turned into the most beautiful day of the week.
MINJEE LEE: I know. It was just so nice. I was like, We are so lucky.
Q.Congratulations, first of all.
MINJEE LEE: Thank you.
Q.Secondly, I would like to come back to Karrie. I know a couple years ago I had lots of conversations with her when I was doing an article for the celebration here. I know how much Evian means to her. So can you share with me, did she give you any tips? How did she tell you to play Evian, whatever, et cetera?
MINJEE LEE: I don’t think I really asked her about like how to play the golf course or anything like that, but over the years she’s been so supportive of my golf and just me as a person, so it’s just been really nice to have her in my corner.
She messages me quite a bit, so just here and there I just think it’s just really nice of her.
Q.To me that’s also very much Karrie, too.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, definitely.
Q.One other question: You’re in Perth, right?
MINJEE LEE: Yes.
Q.Whereabouts in Perth do you play and who were some of the people you trained with and grew up with, because you’ve got a lot of people from Brett Rumford and all sorts of other people coming out of the Perth area.
MINJEE LEE: I play at Royal Fremantle Golf Club, so there was actually not too many girls when I was growing up that were members there. So, you know, I really just practiced by myself.
But there was a lot of like boys coming up, I guess, here and there. But I sort of didn’t really mix with them, to be honest.
What’s next for the champion?
Q.What’s next? British Open, I take it.
MINJEE LEE: I am, but the Olympics is in a couple — in a week and a bit, so I’m going there first. Yeah.
Q.And then you will come back for the British Open?
MINJEE LEE: Scottish and British, yes.
Q.First of all, good luck to start with at the Olympics; and secondly, it’ll be great to see you back in Europe, too.
MINJEE LEE: Thank you.
Q.Thanks. It was really a spectacular win. I think everybody was excited.
MINJEE LEE: Thank you so much.
Q.The last two questions. The first: The playoff on 18 and the eagle kind of similar to the playoff with Lydia at MEDIHEAL?
MINJEE LEE: Oh, yeah. Actually I was like — before I went out to the playoff I was like, I need to change my outcome because the one I played was with Lyds and she made eagle and beat me.
So it was just a quick thought that went through my mind. I just really wanted to have a good hole. Yeah.
Q.And you did. You had a very good hole. Finally, the Olympics, is there a better way to go into Tokyo than with a major championship under your belt now?
MINJEE LEE: You know, it’s so cool. I still can’t believe it. Yeah, the Olympics have been on the back of my mind since Rio, so I’m really excited to play and go out there and rep my country. Yeah.
Q.Will you be going back to the states first?
MINJEE LEE: Yes.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Well, congratulations. We’re so happy for you. See you in Tokyo, and more importantly, see you back here next year as the reining Evian champion. Congratulations, Minjee.
MINJEE LEE: Thank you so much.
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE – JULY 25: Tournament winner Minjee Lee of Australia waves to the crowd during day four of the The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 25, 2021 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Photo: Brooke Henderson during her first round of the Evian Championship 2021. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Q.Let’s start with the birdie on 11, nice long 15-footer?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, it was a little longer than that. It was nice to get started on the day with a birdie, even though I gave it back on the next hole. It was still nice to get under par early.
Q.You finished with two straight birdies to end the round, some good momentum, kind of found what you were hoping to start the tournament with?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, for sure. I wanted to get off to a faster start, have a good day today, and I felt like I accomplished that, which I’m really happy about, and I’m excited for the next three days.
I putted really well today, which gives me a lot of confidence moving forward, and hopefully I can just hit a few more greens tomorrow and give myself some good looks, hopefully roll in a few more birdies.
Q.Having not seen this course in two years, what did it play like from what you remembered about it in the past?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Well, one thing coming back here is it’s not as stressful object the practice round days because you know what to expect, so it was really nice. I feel like we’re really familiar with this golf course, and we kind of know where to hit it and where to miss it, which is really important, especially here with all the hills and slopes that the greens have. But I felt like we just need to do a little bit better job of adapting to the release on the course, and I think if it rains this weekend then it won’t be releasing as much, but maybe tomorrow in the afternoon might have to account for a little bit more.
Evian Championship 2021. Kelly Korda: Getty Images
July 21, 2021
Nelly Korda
Evian-les-Bains, France
Evian Resort Golf Club
Press Conference
THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to the media center here. Nelly Korda, making her 13th start of the LPGA season, a Tour-leading three victories, including the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she moved to World No. 1.
Making your fourth appearance here at Evian, best finish in 2019 of T25. Welcome back to Evian. We missed this place last year. Inbee said she didn’t realize how much she missed it until she got here. What’s it like to be back here at Lake Geneva?
NELLY KORDA: It’s so nice, especially this time of year. The atmosphere is amazing and the views are amazing and the weather. Nothing can beat this.
THE MODERATOR: What have the last couple days been like, getting in, getting transitioned over from the States where you played last week? It’s never easy to cross borders, even more difficult now, but how are you feeling as you get ready for this next major?
NELLY KORDA: I feel honestly pretty good. I feel like the first day when you’re overseas with the time change is very important, so I made sure to stay up past 9:00, which was really hard, but I did, and I slept through the night. I feel like once you get that first night in, it’s a lot easier.
Q.I know you’ve been here since Monday, so had a couple days to see the golf course yesterday, the pro-am today. I know it’s kind of wet but it’s drying out pretty well. How does the golf course look right now?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I know they got a lot of rain last week. It is a lot softer than typically, what it usually plays like, but the rough is thick, so I think that’s going to play a huge part, hitting fairways, and then the greens are always difficult.
I think it’s still very difficult, but it’s definitely a lot more wet than it has been.
Q.This is your first time coming to a major as world No. 1. Having a major already under your belt, how does that feel? Is it any added pressure? Does that change your game at all?
NELLY KORDA: I don’t think it changes my game. It’s definitely cool. It’s a cool feeling. I’m very proud of it. But again, Jess kind of said it last week in an interview we did, she was like, yeah, everyone is now coming after her, so in a sense, I’m like, that’s right. But it’s a new week, and every week I go into a tournament with a new mindset. It doesn’t matter the ranking.
Q.At Dow you and your caddie Jason got the caddie bib presentation. He gets the green bib again this week. Is that a fun thing to do now?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think it’s fun for him, too, and it’s just a couple goals you get to check off, so it’s nice.
Q.You two seem to have a great relationship. Tell us, how long has he been on your bag? I know he’s been on your bag for a while, and how much does he help you with your game?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, we were actually talking about it today with our pro-am group, this is our fourth year working together. He’s like everything. He’s obviously caddie, he’s like a big brother, psychologist sometimes, but also my biggest supporter, and he’s always in my corner, and super grateful for him.
Q.Do you really rely on his vision out on the golf course? Are you someone who relies on a caddie for their help and expertise?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, we do a good bit of teamwork. On the greens not so much, but everything else he gets involved.
Q.I saw him out walking the course yesterday. I got a little tour out there to see what it was like and I know he was doing a lot of scouting. How does that help you and how do you feel like you’ve gotten to know the course better over the years that you’ve played here?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, definitely. I feel like the more you play out here, the more you kind of learn about the bounces and where to hit it and whatnot, what part of the hole to be on on the greens. So I feel like we’re constantly both learning.
Two years ago was my best finish, but I definitely — a big goal is to contend in these tournaments, so just kind of trying to figure it out a little bit more each year helps.
Q.What is the toughest part of this course for you that you really have to focus on?
NELLY KORDA: You know, you can hit good shots and you get a really bad bounce and you’re just in an impossible position. You can hit a bad shot and it trickles up there and you sink it for birdie. So it’s more of just like a mental aspect and also just knowing where to miss.
Q.Going on to the Olympics and now you’re here playing as No. 1, what difference does this make in overall attitude, preparation? Are you doing things differently? And are you going to prepare differently for the Olympics?
NELLY KORDA: With the ranking?
Q.Yeah.
NELLY KORDA: No, not at all. At the end of the day you have the same game plan going into every week, and a ranking in a sense is a ranking and it’s a huge accomplishment, but when it comes to game plans, I stick to the same thing every week despite my ranking. I could be 30th in the world or I could be whatever, I’m still going to go into every week with the same game plan.
Q.Is there a difference between the Olympics and the majors for you?
NELLY KORDA: I mean, they’re all very big events. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small event or if it’s a major. I’m going to go into every week with the same mindset and the same preparation because at the end of the day you go into any type of event wanting to win.
Q.Is there anything that you did during the COVID downtime that got you away from golf that was like a new hobby, a new activity, just because you weren’t out on the golf course and you had extra time that you enjoyed?
NELLY KORDA: I actually — honestly Florida was kind of functioning normally, so I actually played a lot of golf. I didn’t really kind of step away from the game. I worked out. I just kind of stuck to a routine so I wouldn’t go completely crazy.
Q.We had Inbee in here before, and we’ve heard from a lot of medal winners, especially Shanshan, how much winning a medal impacted the growth of the game in their country. What do you think an American winning a medal in Tokyo would do for the game of golf and maybe for you personally as Nelly Korda, the person, the personality?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it would be a huge accomplishment and be really special. I think we’re at the point that even winning a major is growing the game. Playing just a regular tournament is growing a game, but there’s nothing like the Olympics. It’s every four years. It’s a huge honor even to just be an Olympian, so I feel like anytime you’re on that kind of stage and have a chance to grow the game of golf is really special.
Q.I know we’ve seen a lot of requests coming in for interviews with you and your sister. I saw you guys were featured on ESPN’s Instagram and on instyle.com, all sorts of things. How cool is that to see you popping up in all these not-golf places?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it’s super special. Honestly the week of KPMG, I think I was more nervous for (indiscernible) than anything else, so I was really happy to see that she played well. We’re both going to the Olympics together.
Honestly it’s a huge honor, and we’re just super excited and grateful for everything.
Q.I know it’s not going to be maybe our normal week in Tokyo, but what are you most looking forward to during that week there? I know you’re going to try to go over and see some of the men’s competition perhaps.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think I’ll get to see their final day, so I think that’ll be really exciting because I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to, in a sense, a men’s event, but just the experience repping red, white and blue is going to be a lot of fun, and to call each other Olympians, only the females in the Korda household will be Olympians, so that’ll be really cool.
Q.Has your family been able to spend a lot of time together since Sebby’s run at Wimbledon? I know you’ve talked about your Drive On video that came out this week, but how dang athletic is your family? It’s unfair.
NELLY KORDA: We’re very sport oriented. I actually spent the week before Dow with my brother. I didn’t see him for a couple months, so it was really nice to spend some time with him and my dad. Jess unfortunately, she was at Marathon competing, so she wasn’t — she was like, I have really bad FOMO right now. That’s all we were getting in her text messages.
But it was really nice to see him, and he’s playing well. He’s putting in a lot of work, and it’s just super exciting to see it pay off and to see him do what he loves.
Q.What’s the key to the success in the family? I know you’ve learned a lot from your dad and certainly from your mom, but is it kind of a family way of working towards common athletic goals?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, honestly, I don’t even know. I can’t even answer the question in a sense because we had like a lot of structure obviously growing up, but like it didn’t even like hit us that we’re like doing something like this. It’s like more of like this is our everyday kind of thing, like we’re just going about our business, pushing each other, talking about sports, seeing how maybe we can do something better, be better people, be better athletes. We just like go about our business and kind of keep our heads down and just tread along, in a sense.
Q.Since the major win, since you’ve been No. 1 now, and Christina mentioned some of the magazines and things like that, what have been the demands like, and have you been having to use the word “no” quite a few times?
NELLY KORDA: I don’t know, ask my agent that.
Q.So it’s filtered?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, usually my dad and my agent handle that. But yeah, it’s been exciting. It’s been cool. It’s just been really special, and sometimes I’m just — I’m like, pinch me; is this even real?
Q.But is that something that maybe within the family dynamic can help because time can be demanding for you and you’re in a bit of a busy spell right now?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, are you saying like is it nice to just be around family?
Q.Well, not necessarily that, but it would be easy for you if you said yes to all your demands for your time to be sort of diverting away from what you need to be doing.
NELLY KORDA: I feel like we’re constantly busy, like we’re constantly on the go, and obviously last year with COVID it was really tough because we have such a busy schedule always, so it was nice to have structure.
But yeah, I mean, in a sense I’m kind of used to the busy schedule. When I’m home for a little, I’m like, okay, I’m ready to go on the road again.
Q.What are your thoughts on some of the French players here?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I know Celine. I played with her a couple weeks ago. She’s a very solid player. She putts really well, which is going to be very important out here this week, and I think she got actually longer off the tee, which I noticed when I played with her last. Because it’s soft, it’s probably an advantage to the longer players because it won’t roll out, but in all she’s a really solid player, and I don’t know what her past finishes have been out here, but I feel like she could do well out here.
Q.What would you say about the greens?
NELLY KORDA: I would say kind of funky, very difficult, a lot of ridges. I think that’s the golf course’s defense, in a sense, is like the greens, especially if they get firm and fast. They’re very tricky.
Q.We had Inbee in here right before you, certainly the defending gold medal winner. What do you remember about the first time you watched Inbee up close playing golf? Do you remember when that was and just your thoughts on as a kid watching Inbee?
NELLY KORDA: I think the first memory that pops into my head is playing British Open with her. I played the first two rounds with her at Kingsbarns, and I was like, oh, my God, she looks at something and makes it. Like I want to be her. She’s just a very solid player.
She’s very nice. Not many people — she doesn’t really speak too much, but when she does, she’s very welcoming and very nice, so that’s kind of like the first thing I thought about.
Q.You’ve got a major win under your belt. What are your goals for the rest of the year?
NELLY KORDA: Well, I think my biggest goal was just to stay healthy this year, so if I can pull that off, that would be great.
As in the whole year, I don’t know, probably just to contend in a couple more events, and I have a couple big events coming up. We have this week, then we have Olympics, another major and Solheim. As I said, to stay healthy and just to stay consistent.
Q.How are you planning to manage your time over this next month because this is a crazy stretch coming up, to keep yourself well mentally and physically?
NELLY KORDA: Well, I bought a gaming laptop, so I am gaming a little, just to try and keep my mind off of things. You kind of need a way to kind of escape a little sometimes, so I was like, hmm, may as well try it out. Other than that, just rest and take it easy. A lot of people put a lot of pressure on these weeks and they tire themselves out so much, especially mentally, and I think if you’re tired mentally then — which I’ve learned in the past, you’re just dead, drained.
Q.What games are you playing?
NELLY KORDA: Right now Call of Duty, Modern Warfare. But when I was a kid I really liked the card games, so I may download one of those. Complete nerd coming out of me right now.
Q.We’ve got a great field. You’re headlining a great field, but we have some names who skipped this to play the Olympics. What are your thoughts on that and why are you here to play this week?
NELLY KORDA: Each to their own when it comes to a schedule. I know a couple of top girls are missing this week just because it was a lot of travel, a lot of big events coming up. At the end of the day I think they’re just thinking about how their bodies are going to be and not tiring themselves out. But I would never miss a major.
THE MODERATOR: We’re glad to have you here. Thanks so much. We’ll see you later this week.
Inbee Park looking forward to a second win at Evian Golf Club, and also starting engines for The Olympics.
July 21, 2021
Inbee Park
Evian-les-Bains, France
Evian Resort Golf Club
Press Conference
THE MODERATOR: We’re going to get started with Inbee Park. Welcome back to the media center for the Amundi Evian Championship. Here with Inbee Park, appearing in her 13th event of the LPGA season, a win at the Kia Classic and six other top-10 finishes. Here she’s making her 11th appearance at the Evian Resort Golf Club with a victory at the 2012 Evian Masters. Welcome back, Inbee. We all missed being here last year. How good of a feeling was it to see Lake Geneva and to see all the beautiful sights here in Evian.
INBEE PARK: Yeah, it was really great to be back here and I didn’t know until I came here how much I missed this place. It is so beautiful. Obviously the weather was just amazing the last three days, and the golf course is in really, really good shape. Hopefully the weather just holds on until Sunday so we play this beautiful golf course for all four days.
Yeah, like I said, really great to be back here in a beautiful place. Didn’t think that I missed it this much, but as soon as I arrived here at the hotel, at the golf course, and just the view of the venue here is just amazing.
THE MODERATOR: You mentioned the course; our lead rules official is saying this is the best he’s ever seen it and that’s amazing considering how much rain it’s received over the past two months. You’ve had a couple days to see the golf course, reacquaint yourself. How does it look out there for this championship week?
INBEE PARK: Yeah, it is probably the best I’ve seen. I think after they did the renovation this is definitely the best condition I have seen this golf course. The first day when I did the practice round it was a little bit soft, but today I played the pro-am in the morning and it was firming up nicely.
In the next couple days without the rain, I think the course is going to play firm and fast, which is how we want to play this golf course.
The greens are very tricky still, whether they’re slow or fast. You’re always going to struggle on these greens trying to read the putts. There’s a lot of slopes on these greens, so you’ve got to be careful of that, and the rough is thick, so you have to be in the fairways and you have to be putting well.
THE MODERATOR: Beyond the winning moment from 2012, what are the biggest moments you remember from that week here in 2012 when you won?
INBEE PARK: Well, I remember because that was the second win of my LPGA Tour career and the first win traveling with my husband. It was a very special moment.
Out of all the like 20 wins I’ve done with my husband, this is definitely the first one and the best one because it was the first one.
It has a really special place in my heart, and just the moment — I felt like that week I putted so well on these greens. I felt like I struggled a lot on these greens over a few years before heading into 2012 Evian, but somehow 2012 the putting was just working really well. I was trying to work out why, but still couldn’t figure out why the putting in 2012. Hopefully another year of putting like that in 2012.
THE MODERATOR: What is it with you and your putting? Has that always been a strength of your game.
INBEE PARK: I think so. I think my putting has been — always been above average. I have been having these years that I was putting really, really good, and then I had the years that I’m putting above average but not as good as other years, but I think my putting always has been really good, I think, overall.
I definitely have those weeks where I don’t putt well at all, but that’s normal with putting. I don’t try to be too greedy with the putter. When I try to be too greedy with the putter, you’re not making many putts. Just trying to be very calm and very nice to my putter so it works. Sometimes I put a good stroke on it and it doesn’t go in. Sometimes I put a bad stroke on it and it goes in.
You just don’t know. It’s golf. Especially putting is just something that I still can’t figure out.
THE MODERATOR: You can’t figure it out but you have it and you can’t explain it. It’s a strange thing.
Q. You did win the Evian Masters in 2012 but what would it mean to get a win here and add another major title? Do you feel any pressure to add that to your resume?
INBEE PARK: That is definitely one thing I’ve always wanted to do. I definitely won in 2012 but it wasn’t a major. It became a major, they redid the golf course, and we’re playing a little bit different of a golf course. Obviously becoming a major, definitely wanting to win another Evian Championship. Yeah, this year I think would be a really good year to do it, as well, coming into the Tokyo Olympics and obviously the course is in really, really good shape.
I really want to play well on this type of a golf course. Yeah, it’s really going to come down to putting because I played the pro-am the last couple days and a practice round, still can’t exactly figure out every putt. Sometimes it breaks a lot more than I think and sometimes it just breaks the other way.
Just trying to learn the greens. I did homework for the last three days and hopefully that pays off for the weekend.
Q. You mentioned the Olympics; what is the anticipation level for these Olympics as you hope to defend your gold medal? You said this is what has kept you playing is the opportunity to play in Tokyo. What are you feeling as you get ready for this week?
INBEE PARK: Well, I think it has been definitely a big motivation of mine going to 2021 Olympics. I was able to achieve my goal and qualify for the spot.
Yeah, really excited to be going to the second Olympics of my career, and I feel like I’m in a little better shape than I was in 2016, so I feel a little better.
Yeah, just really, really excited. I know it’s going to be a little bit different, obviously, with the COVID, but I still think Olympics is Olympics, and yeah, we’re just going to have a lot of fun.
Q. You talked about 2016 and your injury, and I think that story and that comeback is one of golf’s great stories. What was it like that year of 2016 wanting to play, not knowing if you could, taking the time off and then, oh, hello, I’m going to come win gold?
INBEE PARK: Yeah, that was probably the most mysterious thing that I’ve probably ever done in my whole entire career. Still can’t figure out how. I worked really hard to play in 2016 Rio Olympics.
A little different preparation to 2020 Tokyo because 2016 I probably took two, three months off before heading into the Olympics and just worked on my game, no competition at all.
But this year I feel good, no injuries, so I am just playing the tournaments before so I can get the good feel of competition.
It’s going to be hard to beat the last one for sure, but hopefully this way works, as well.
Q. What are your plans over the next week? When do you head to Tokyo and what your plans from there?
INBEE PARK: Yeah, I go back to Korea after this week and then leave to Tokyo on Saturday.
Q. Continuing on the Olympics question, in all of the victories that you’ve had in your career, how do you rank the Olympics with the majors? Which would be more important to you?
INBEE PARK: I think for the rareness of it, the Olympics is definitely number one. I have seven majors and one Olympic gold. For the rareness, I’d say the best accomplishment I ever had is the gold medal.
Q. Is there one in all these accomplishments that really stands out outside of the Olympics?
INBEE PARK: 2013 was a very special year for me, winning the three majors in the same year. I can’t really tell you one of that, but I think just that year, just that whole entire year was just a very special year for me with the three majors.
Q. Any special preparation other than playing a lot this time that you’re doing, and have you played in Japan before?
INBEE PARK: I have played in Japan about two to three years in Japanese Tour in and out a little bit. Not full time, but I have played about 10 events every year for about three years, so I am familiar with the Japanese golf courses, and I have played on many of their golf courses.
Q. Have you played the Olympic course?
INBEE PARK: No.
Q. This time a year ago was so strange; I know you said you didn’t realize how much you missed it until you got back, but can you put into context kind of where we were a year ago right now and certainly where we need to still be having our masks but feel like we’re somehow getting back to normal?
INBEE PARK: You know, I thought it was coming back to normal, especially the last couple of months or so when everything was just calming down. Then this delta virus came in, and in Korea we’re having the most cases ever in the last couple years.
We thought we were going the right direction, and then now it feels like it’s going backwards. I know it’s going to be a very tough battle for everybody, and hopefully we all get together and get through this.
Q. Following from the Olympics, of course three years’ time the Olympics will be in France, in Paris. Can you see yourself playing in that?
INBEE PARK: Well, I can tell you that I didn’t see myself playing in 2020 Tokyo, but I am here, so I don’t know. Maybe 2024 in Paris. It is definitely a beautiful place and a place I always wanted to go.
Yeah, I mean, it would be nice, but I don’t know if I’ll be there. I’m not sure.
Q. You play quite a lot of golf, obviously, in the buildup to this, I take it you’re going to play the Women’s Open, as well, at Carnoustie. What’s your schedule like after that? Are you going to put your feet up a bit or carry on playing as often as this?
INBEE PARK: Yeah, I think I’m going to play this one and the Olympics and the British Open, and then I’ll take probably three, four weeks off after that.
Q. Going to the Olympics and talking about the gender equality between the men’s side of the game and the women’s side, do you feel that the Olympics puts the two sides on equal footing, and if so or if not, why? What are your thoughts on that?
INBEE PARK: You mean the competition level?
Q. For the competition, for the golf, for the overall experience.
INBEE PARK: Well, I think for my perspective, I think the Olympics is definitely the venue and definitely the place that I really want to experience. I think most of the girls probably think like that. But I don’t know, like the men’s, I’ve seen the news that a few of them pulled out of the Olympics, and I know definitely they have a lot more schedule than we do, and sometimes everyone’s choice could be different.
Yeah, I think the level, the field that we’re getting, I think the women’s field definitely gets — I guess if you — let’s say 60 girls have qualified, then probably 58, probably like more than 90 percent is going to stay or want to compete. Out of the men’s maybe just a little less percentage than that.
Yeah, I think the level of getting involved is probably a little less.
Q. But when you’re on-site, is it pretty much — it seems to be the same, the men’s week and the women’s week as far as the atmosphere and experience?
INBEE PARK: I think it is actually probably the most equal golf tournament that we’ll ever see, definitely. The PGA TOUR events and LPGA events, there’s definitely some gap of difference, but Olympics is definitely — I felt like it was the same week.
Q. What did you do during the COVID period? Were you practicing or training or did you create another hobby, another interest to occupy yourself and get away from the COVID stress?
INBEE PARK: I think in the first month or so I kind of took some time off from golf. After that I started practicing and training because I didn’t know when we were going to come back and play.
Nothing like new hobby or anything, I just lived a normal life, just training and practicing.
Q. And resting up?
INBEE PARK: And resting. In Korea. I spent most of the COVID time in Korea.
Q. Do you have a good luck charm or a fetish that helps you win all these majors and that is really key to you when you’re going to play in the Olympics and everywhere else?
INBEE PARK: My dog, Rio. He’s a golden retriever, and I got him after I won the gold in Rio Olympics. Since then Rio has been my most precious thing and most lucky — the best lucky charm I’ll ever have.
Q. What are your thoughts about the media coverage for the Olympics; is it equal?
INBEE PARK: I think it is very similar and very fair. As a woman’s perspective I think it is definitely the best week.
THE MODERATOR: You mentioned your husband earlier; you always have your small group that you’re with, you have Gi, you have Brad, you have So Yeon, your best friend. Has that been important to you throughout your career to have that group with you and maybe your home space when you’re on the road?
INBEE PARK: Yeah, we have a new person in our group, Danielle Kang, as well, and she would be feeling sad if we left her out. But yeah, it is always great to have good company like that. This is — the LPGA Tour traveling and just eating meals by yourself is just so miserable. No matter how good a golf you play, I don’t think you’re going to be feeling too happy. It’s always great to have some good people around me like that. Yeah, I’m very lucky.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much, Inbee. Good luck this week. We’ll see you out there.
The Amundi Evian Championship 2021 / Lydia Ko: Getty Images
July 20, 2021
Lydia Ko
Evian Resort Golf Club
Quick Quotes
Q. Lydia, got to be a good feeling to finally be back here in Evian. How are you doing right now?
LYDIA KO:
Yeah, obviously we missed it last year, so definitely good to be back. It’s a place where I’ve had a lot of good memories, so, yeah, weather is beautiful and hopefully it stays that way the rest of the week.
Q. I obviously know what they are, but in your voice tell us some of the great memories you got here.
LYDIA KO:
My final round here the year that I won in ’15 is probably some of the best golf that I’ve played. You know, I think when I was out of position I played smart and I finished really strong with a couple birdies in my last two holes.
So, yeah, in general, I used to be an Evian ambassador, so I feel like I have that connection with Franck and Jacques, and obviously Rolex is obviously a huge supporter of this event, so hopefully do them proud.
Q. You finished up the first practice round. We’ve had of a lot rain here over the last week, but how is the course looking?
LYDIA KO:
I thought it was going to be really wet after seeing the email about how much rain this course is kind of received, but it’s actually pretty dry considering.
I just don’t know how much — like what extent the rain was. It’s drier than some time we’ve dominate come who are is looking pretty pure.
Q. How is your game feeling right now?
LYDIA KO:
I had so much fun playing with Danielle last week. I had a couple not-so-good shots that kind of put us out of contention on this Friday.
But, no, hopefully that gives me good momentum coming here and just enjoy it and see what happens.
Q. And we’re in for a busy couple weeks. Here, Olympics, AIG. How are you going to be managing your time?
LYDIA KO:
Yeah, going to take next week off, go home it Orlando for a few days and then I’ll be doing Olympics and the two Scottish events and have a pretty big break after that. Yeah, this is an important and big stretch for me.
So just making sure that I’m physically feeling good as well as mentally.
Player Ambassador roles for the brand are expected soon. (Image: Getty)
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Jessica Korda plays a shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions at Tranquilo Golf Course at the Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club on January 24, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Image: Getty)
JESSICA KORDA WINS IN A PLAYOFF WITH DANIELLE KANG
American Jessica Korda drained a 25-foot birdie on the first sudden-death playoff hole to defeat Danielle Kang and win the 2021 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. Korda shattered the tournament scoring record with a four-day total of 24-under 260, besting the previous mark of 14-under 270 set by Eun Hee Ji in 2019. The win also came the day after Korda shot the fifth 60 in LPGA Tour history.
“I didn’t have great numbers all day. I was in between shots all day. It was just frustrating because I wanted to be aggressive, but then I wasn’t,” said Korda, who shot 66 on Sunday. “And then kind of just said, You know what? Forget about it. Just stick to your process and be aggressive when you can and take those opportunities.
But having those putts roll in definitely helped.”
After starting the day two strokes behind Kang, Korda’s birdie at the par-3 16th pulled the pair into a tie at the top. The duo swapped birdies at No. 17 and both players left their birdie putts short on the par-3 18th.
Going back to the 18th tee for the playoff, Korda and Kang both hit the center of the green. Korda hit first and punctuated the long birdie putt with an emphatic fist pump reminiscent of a classic Tiger Woods moment. Kang’s birdie attempt tracked left from the moment she hit the putt, giving Korda her sixth LPGA Tour victory and fourth in her season-opening event.
“Everyone says low expectations, but I always expect, I don’t show up to a tournament just to show up,” said Korda, who earned her first victory with her parents, retired tennis stars Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtová, in the gallery. “I’m too old for that. This is my 11th year. I know I’ve won a lot first week out.”
Korda again displayed her absolute mastery of the second nine at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando, carding Sunday birdies at 13, 14, 16 and 17 for a four-day total of -22 over the closing nine holes. But when asked what it was about those nine holes that suits her, Korda could not come up with an answer.
“Honestly, I have no idea. I wouldn’t be able to tell you other than I hit it close and dropped some putts,” she said.
Korda’s younger sister Nelly Korda shot Sunday’s low round of 7-under 64 and finished third at -22. Defending DRTOC champion Gaby Lopez tied for 11th at -11.
In the celebrity competition, former tennis player Mardy Fish ran away with the tournament, earning an 11-stroke victory at +158. Wounded Warrior Chad Pfeifer was second at +147, while two-time MLB All-Star pitcher Mark Mulder was third at +145.
“Super happy with the way I played. I don’t know what I won by, but it was tough to sort of follow along. It was nice,” said Fish, who could have the Kordas younger brother Sebastian Korda, an up-and-coming tennis pro, on his Davis Cup team. “Just sort of kept going along today and playing our balls instead of theirs and worrying about where they are and stuff. Just trying to get it in as quick as possible and see where we were on the back nine.”
Two-time defending celebrity champion John Smoltz finished seventh at +138 and 72-time LPGA Tour winner Annika Sorenstam was ninth at +134. The celebrity competition is played under a Modified Stableford scoring system.
DANIELLE KANG LEARNS FROM A TOUGH TOURNAMENT END
After battling two brushes with the COVID-19 virus over the holidays, Danielle Kang came to Central Forida knowing that her game was not exactly where she wanted it. Early tournament success seemed to have her heading toward an unexpected win, after setting the tournament’s 36-hole and 54-hole scoring records. However, on Sunday, she just never seemed to find the same groove that she’d enjoyed all week. Kang carded her first bogey of the tournament on Sunday’s 15th hole and her 3-under 68, while certainly a good round in most regards, was just not quite enough to stay ahead of a surging Jessica Korda.
But for the player who focuses on the mental just as much as the physical, there are always moments of learning to take from even the hardest moments.
“I’m not disappointed in that I didn’t win. It’s not about winning and losing for me. It’s about being able to execute when I want to and having a feeling when I feel like I can’t do something is something I don’t like,” said Kang, who quickly called her family and her coach Butch Harmon for a pep talk before the playoff. “But I already knew coming in that I wasn’t really prepared, and so I played great. I had a lot of fun. I got quite a bit of friends playing in it and they came out and watched and I love that, so I take a lot of positives from this week as well. But it’s something to build on and work on and get back at it.”
NELLY KORDA WON EITHER WAY WITH BIG SISTER’S WIN
After a roller coaster of a final round at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando, the Korda sisters each found themselves with something to smile about. For older sister Jessica, it was a sixth LPGA Tour victory to share with the family. For 22-year-old Nelly, it was returning Sunday’s lowest round with a 7-under 64 and getting a confirmation that her game is still strong.
“I hit it solid, putted well, tried to get as close as I could to them, but I started really far back,” said Korda of how she thought she played. “But I gave it a good chance and I’m happy that Jess played well and she’s in a playoff. So hopefully keep my fingers crossed for her.”
Growing up in Florida, the Korda sisters did not necessarily get to play a lot of amateur golf together given their five-year age difference. But now, years later, they’re keeping the competition going with both sisters dominating on the LPGA Tour. Though five years apart in age, they are best friends and even bigger supporters, which was evident during Sunday’s final round.
“It’s pretty cool. She’s been playing well. She made some really good putts today coming in, so she deserves it,” said Nelly, moments before Jessica clinched the win. “Hopefully comes out in her favor.”
A FAMILY AFFAIR AT DIAMOND RESORTS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
In her sixth career win, Jessica Korda finally cried. But the emotions had nothing to do with how she won the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions – a final-round 66 to reach 24-under and a 25-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole to beat third-round leader Danielle Kang. Nor did the tears have anything to do with the grit she showed all week, bouncing back from a lackluster Friday round with a 16-under par weekend.
Jessica’s eyes only welled when asked what kept her motivated through the downtimes, which, in the last few years, have included a crippling hand and wrist injury and major jaw surgery to relieve migraines.
“My family,” Korda said without hesitation, her lower lip beginning to tremble. “They’re always there to pick me up when I’m down. Let me tell you, I’ve been down. My family is everything. They’re my biggest support system. They believe in me more than I believe in myself.”
