Read a transcript of the post-Round 2 interview with Daniel Berger and Nelly Korda.
Read a transcript of the post-Round 2 interview with Daniel Berger and Nelly Korda.
Q. Just talk through the past couple days in competition, what it’s been like to play with each other.
DANIEL BERGER: It’s been very easy, she hits it in the fairway, she hits it on the green, she makes putts. I mean, it’s pretty clear why she’s No. 1 in the world and I need to get my act together and play a little bit better the next at least one more day and see what we can do tomorrow.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, no, we’ve been having fun so that’s most important, and hopefully some more putts drop tomorrow as well.
Q. What have you kind of noticed about the strength in each other’s games? What stands out?
NELLY KORDA: Gosh, he hit so many fairways, really great iron play, and on top of that he rolls it really well. He checks all the boxes. He has a new fan in me, so
DANIEL BERGER: Oh, wow, thank you.
NELLY KORDA: I’ll definitely I’ll star you on my PGA TOUR app
DANIEL BERGER: I mean, yeah, there’s very little weaknesses in her game, if any. I mean, She hits a lot of fairways, she hits a ton of greens. I think we just need to get a few more putts to drop, that was kind of the difference today and yesterday. You know, if we made a few here or there, we could be 16, 17 under. Just continue to do the same thing and see what happens.
Q. Daniel, I think nobody missed what Nelly did this year on the LPGA Tour. Did you get to tune into any of that and what are your thoughts on what she’s accomplished?
DANIEL BERGER: I think she’s won, what, seven times? Every time I look at the leaderboard it’s Nelly Korda winning. It’s fun to watch, and you can see why. I haven’t played a ton of golf with LPGA Tour players, but it’s very impressive.
Q. Nelly, for you, obviously a different partner this year, but what have you learned maybe from Daniel’s game, if anything?
DANIEL BERGER: Nothing.
NELLY KORDA: That’s not true. You know, I love his process on the greens, it’s very diligent as well. He’s a very much finesse player. We were kind of talking about it on the first day. I never hit my shots really full and I like to feel it in and he does the same thing. So I always appreciate that when a player shows his artistic side. It’s been really fun watching him the past two days and hopefully we can put on another show tomorrow.
Q. Daniel, what were your plans for the week before you got this phone call?
DANIEL BERGER: I was not
NELLY KORDA: My savior.
DANIEL BERGER: I was not playing as much golf as I would have if I knew I was playing in this. It was a long year so I was looking forward to a break.
NELLY KORDA: Sorry, and thank you.
DANIEL BERGER: It was a quick drive. When I had the opportunity to play with her, it was an easy yes. I played better than I thought I would have played the last couple days. Would have liked a little more heads up to have some opportunities to practice. No, it’s been fun.
NELLY KORDA: You can talk to Tony about that one.
Q. Had you put the clubs away for a little bit?
DANIEL BERGER: A little bit, yeah. I was texting with Nelly when she found out I was going to play with her and I said I’ve been playing more tennis than golf.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I asked him, you do know we’re playing golf, not tennis, right?
DANIEL BERGER: No, it’s been fun. I think we go out there tomorrow and make some putts and shoot a good score and just work our way up the leaderboard.
Q. Nelly, I know you have a new driver in play this week.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah.
Q. How are you finding it so far?
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, so far it’s been pretty good. This is a great event to kind of test it out to see where I need to make some tweaks. First week in the bag, I do like it, but I do think I need to make a few more tweaks with it.
Q. If you could both answer, what’s the best shot you’ve seen the other player hit so far?
DANIEL BERGER: Well, she hits her 7iron about as far as I hit my 7iron. There was a couple times where I hit one in there yesterday and I looked in her bag and she was hitting the same club I was hitting and I was like wow. It’s just impressive all around.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, same. I mean, the shots, the second shot that he hit into 1 is always really good. I mean, I’m a draw bias player and he’s a fade bias player. For me you don’t really see that type of shot shape on the LPGA, so it’s nice to kind of watch that when the men play with you.
Q. What’s something fun you guys have learned about each other this week?
DANIEL BERGER: Oh, wow.
NELLY KORDA: Well, he chirped my warmup. He’s like so You don’t hit a shot for 30 minutes before your first tee. I’m like yeah, I don’t.
DANIEL BERGER: What I found out is that she likes the snow and she likes, what is it, sled dogging?
NELLY KORDA: Dog sledding.
DANIEL BERGER: She’s going dog sledding.
NELLY KORDA: And I found out he’s on his way to 185, so a lot of PB&Js and protein shakes on the golf course.
Q. I know it was a little bit last minute, but have you all come up with a team name at all or any ideas on that?
DANIEL BERGER: I don’t think we say our team name, it’s a bit over the top. It’s not FiNelly this year.
NELLY KORDA: Yeah, no, although we did roll with it for like the first four holes. He’s like over the ball yesterday, he’s like “Team FiNelly.”
DANIEL BERGER: I told her she could call me Tony the rest of the week.
