Bud Cauley & Jessica Korda

December 10, 2025

MODERATOR:  Welcome to the media center here for the Grant Thornton Invitational. I’m here with Jess and Bud, first time playing together. Just kind of talk about how the partnership maybe came to be.

JESSICA KORDA:  I proposed to Bud like four months ago.

I thought this would be such a fun event to play. Yeah, I just thought Bud would be the perfect partner. We’re close, our families are close. Also, just Bud was such a great sounding board when I was trying to figure out if I wanted to come back and play golf and being out the amount of time as I was. I think we’re just going to have a lot of fun out on the golf course and that’s all I really wanted to do. So Bud was my guy, and he said yes.

BUD CAULEY:  Yeah, no, Jess was the one that asked me to play. As she mentioned, we’ve been great friends for a long time. Our families are great friends. I was just very honored that she asked me to come play with her in her first event back.

MODERATOR:  Jess, you kind of mentioned it. Kind of talk about the decision to come back and play this tournament knowing how much time it’s been since your last start on the LPGA Tour.

JESSICA KORDA:  Well, I got to cover it through the eyes of the media the last two years and I really, really, really, really wanted to play.

So when we were kind of talking about what I could possibly test my body out in, this was almost a nobrainer. So yeah, I love this event. I loved the idea of it when it was first brought to us. And then just being behind the scenes of it and seeing how much fun everybody had, I felt like I had major FOMO, so I needed to play.

MODERATOR:  And then getting out onto the course, what are maybe some of the strategies or thoughts or ways you’re going to plot yourselves around the course throughout the week?

BUD CAULEY:  I’m just going to ride Jess. We played a few times at home together. She’s been playing great. She’s played here a bunch, so I’m just going to lean on her all week.

JESSICA KORDA:  In terms of strategy, I’m leaving that up to our caddies. That seems like a “them” decision and we’ll just go with whatever they say.

MODERATOR:  How do you guys complement each other’s games?

BUD CAULEY:  Well, Jessica does everything well.

JESSICA KORDA:  So do you.

BUD CAULEY:  Like I said, I know she’s been out for a while but we played a lot at home, we played nine when we first got here Tuesday. I’m a little nervous in the modified alternate shot, I know she’s going to put me in the fairway. I’d really like to return the favor. That’s really all I’m worried about.

JESSICA KORDA:  I mean, I think one of the coolest things is watching Bud’s swing. It’s so compact and like perfect. First off, Bud’s rhythm is awesome, and for somebody coming back it’s so good to have somebody with you that has great rhythm because you can really feed off of that. So I think that for me is going to be really important. And then just like Bud’s short game is insane, so no matter where I hit it, I know that he’s got me. Your turn.

MODERATOR:  We’ll open it up to the media center.

Q.  Bud, I know you took an extended time to heal from what you were dealing with. What perspective have you shared with Jess as you’ve decided to come back if you’re comfortable sharing that?

BUD CAULEY:  We have spoke about it a little bit, but really the only thing you can do is get out there and get your feet wet again. Obviously I know she’s been putting in a lot of time at home to prepare and get ready. When we have talked about it, I guess I’m not very much help because really there’s no substitute just for coming back out playing, competing and going out there and trying to shoot a score.

Q.  And then, Jess, can you just walk us through the process? You’ve documented a lot on social media, getting back in the saddle, hitting those shots again, practicing. What’s it like for you from almost two years on from having Mr. Greyson?

JESSICA KORDA:  At first it was great because I had so much joy being out there, and then the real work started and I was like, oh, we have to grind now.

So just like getting back into it, building up the stamina a little bit. And I played golf maybe three or four times a week. Like it wasn’t like I was out there ever single day all day. It was a very slow buildup and I still, I think the most I played golf was like six or seven days in a row. Like it wasn’t anything massive.

So I’m still taking it very much slowly because if I were to come back out on tour, it wouldn’t be till mid March, so I have plenty of time. It was more just the buildup to this event and we’ll see what we need to work on, you know, going forward.

But there’s nothing that  I can’t kind of make a tournament out at home because we’ll never get those competitive juices. Playing with the guys definitely makes me a little bit nervous, which is fun, and like I said, it’s just been a lot of fun to be out there. I feel like myself and it’s a little bit of a break from being a mom and wiping butts.

Q.  How is little man and how has your perspective kind of shifted with him in the picture now of what you want if you were to return in a fulltime capacity?

BUD CAULEY:  It wouldn’t be full time.

Q.  OK. How has your perspective shifted on golf, and how’s he doing? I’m sure he’s out here with you this week.

BUD CAULEY:  It’s a lot tougher managing a schedule. Like I’m always late no matter what. I was never late, I was like clockwork, I was out two hours before.

Now, just like managing him and also then like trying to get ready for me. I mean, I’m on a foam roller and he’s half on top of me or balls are flying at my face. Just it’s a little bit more chaotic than it was before.

But it’s way more fun than it was before. Like I said, golf’s kind of a little bit of an escape from being a mom all day, but also just makes it more fun. Everything’s more enjoyable.

Q.  Nelly said she was really happy to have her dinner buddy back. How happy are you just to be back out here alongside of her and share in some of that sister time that maybe you’ve missed the last couple years?

JESSICA KORDA:  It was great. She ordered me dinner last night.

Q.  What did you have?

BUD CAULEY:  Kim Bob. No, it’s been fun. We played a practice round yesterday. It’s been so long since we’ve been on a golf course together, so yeah, it’s been a lot of fun.

MODERATOR:  Any other questions from the media? Well, thank you for your time, guys.

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