Following the conclusion of the U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at Riviera Country Club and U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, champions Nely Korda and Wyndham Clark answered a few questions for the Victory Club Newsletter presented by Lexus.
Nelly Korda
What do you think this says about the legacy of your career or what do you hope it means that you won the U.S. Open?
Korda: I've never really thought about the legacy of my career, if I'm being completely honest. I just really love competing, and I love being in this position of sometimes having a big lead going into Sunday or being tied for the lead and having to absolutely grind it out. I didn't feel my best on the back nine. I had a lot of emotions swirling in my stomach. I would say it's just a dream come true. I have dreamt about this moment since I was a little girl. I watched my sister compete in the Women's Open from a really young age. I mean, she started at the age of 15. So it's just been, it's honestly just a dream come true sitting next to this trophy.
Describe the walk up the 18th and the amphitheater, what you were thinking?
Korda: I was like, ‘gosh, I wish that putt was closer.’ It's really amazing to see. I mean, especially with the hole. It kind of gave me vibes of in Paris where it was just a very great golf course for fans to watch, where there's not a bad seat in the house, and it makes it really cool to walk up to see the iconic golf, the clubhouse and everyone sitting around cheering me on. A couple times I had to tell myself, ‘okay, stay in the moment, stay in the moment,’ because I was dreaming. I was dreaming of hoisting the trophy a little too early.
As golfers we all know a grip change is one of the worst possible things you could do in the middle of a championship. What was it like for you to battle that physical change?
Korda: The worst. It was honestly the worst. I kept telling -- my sister was like, I barely could sleep. I just literally told you to change your grip during a major championship (laughing). But it is so uncomfortable. I think it's the hardest thing in the game of golf is to change your grip because you're always like -- I was fiddling with it so much even on the range my sister was like, I just saw you regrip your grip four times before you hit that one shot, and I'm like, yeah, because it feels awful. I feel like I'm going to hook this thing 30 yards left. And just like being able to trust that, I think that's why I had those shots out right too, because I didn't trust it and I didn't want to snap hook it left, so I was also kind of like battling that. But I don't recommend it. I do not recommend changing your grip during a major championship.
Lexus Ambassador Wyndham Clark
Your dad surprised you on the 18th green there. After all that you guys have been through, what did it mean to you to have him there to witness you win for the first time?
Clark: He's never been there to see me win. Not only that, to finally have him there for a win is amazing, but especially on Father's Day. I know in '23 it was obviously a great Father's Day present for him, but I know he wanted to be there here in person. So for him to surprise me was amazing, and so I can't wait to spend more time with my dad tonight and celebrating this, because it's not just my win. It's my team. It's John Ellis, who helped get me here; it's Big Wave; it's my agent; it's my swing coaches, my trainers, and then obviously my family. There's a lot of people behind me, so I was happy that he could be here.
Can you talk through the decision to hit driver on 10 and the difficulty of the second shot as well?
Clark: we kind of always have played it down there, and the wind wasn't directly down, so it was off the right, so we thought, okay, if we can get to where we have a wedge in our hand, as long as it's not down, we'll be able to hold the green. Our other goal was to try to almost get on the upslope. So if we had the upslope, we would be able to get some height and stop it. By no means did I think I could hit it as close as I did. That was definitely one of the better shots of the day. I think in years past people have laid up in the back or farther back. We talked about it. I said, as long as we can hold the green, I would rather be 60 yards than 160 yards to try to hit it to 30 feet. Fortunately, I clipped it perfect and pulled off the shot.
You had that trophy before. Is there anything you didn't get to do with it last time that you think you might try to do this year?
Clark: Winning something the second time I think you really appreciate what you did the previous time and how difficult it is. It will more be -- I might give it to my coach. I might give it to my trainer. I might give it to the team and let them take it and enjoy it almost more than me. Last time, you know, I was always in control of it. I think this is kind of a team win here.