“Pretty cool” says World No.1 Nelly Korda on playing in front of Tiger Woods

Fatiha Betscher
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Petr Korda and his daughter Nelly Korda talk to the media during the PGA TOUR Champions Thursday Pro-am at PNC Championship at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on December 16, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Fatiha Betscher

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“Pretty Cool,” says Women’s World No. 1 Nelly Korda when asked what it is going to be like playing in front of former long-time men’s No. 1 Tiger Woods at this week’s PNC Championship in Florida.

Korda is competing in the event for the first time and is partnered with her 53-year-old 1996 Australian Tennis Open winning father, Petr in the event again being staged on the Ritz Carlton course in suburban Orlando.

The Korda’s have been drawn to tee-up Saturday in the penultimate and the 19th match of the first day alongside John Daly and his son, with the Woods pairing of Tiger and his son, Charlie out in the final group with the defending champion duo of Justin Thomas and his father, Mike.

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It prompted Nelly, who went to World No. 1 at the end of June in capturing the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, to be asked her thoughts knowing fellow former long-time men’s World No. 1 Woods will be right behind her and her father.

“Playing right in front of Tiger Woods is pretty cool too. I’m not going to lie. I’m being a little selfish here, but that’s pretty cool”, she said.

“We’ve been looking forward to this event for a really long time, and I’ve been telling my dad, I’m like it’s my offseason. Like you’re the star of the show. It’s your time to shine. So you’re going to be — he’s going to be the one dropping bombs.

“But I think we’re just really happy to be here together, and hopefully we make some good memories”.

Father Petr Korda got as high as men’s World No. 2 in tennis in February 1998 and six years earlier had been a finalist in the 1992 French Open.

He was asked if he felt any pressure following his daughter’s remarks.

“Definitely looking — you know, playing with Nelly, it’s creating some new memories, and it’s also a great honour, I believe, for the women’s golf to be in the same event with other players, other greats, from Mr. Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino, and other guys”, he said.

It prompted Nelly to add:  “Tiger Woods” to which her father replied: “Yes. Obviously, I wanted to finish with, you know, the cherry on the top of the cake having Mr. Woods here.

“So it will be special. I told Nelly, I’m the tennis player. I feel like I don’t belong over here. I’ll try my best, and hopefully, she’s not going to be disappointed.

“That special role I had when I was telling my kids what to do, not to do, I think after this tournament will be gone because they will be the ones telling me what to do and how to do it. So it will be really special. Hopefully, we’ll have a good time, and that’s what’s most important.”

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