After Solheim Cup Victory, Nelly Korda speaks her mind: “I Hate All the Girls”

After playing a key role in the Americans’ Solheim Cup victory, Nelly Korda, the top-ranked player, didn’t linger at Sunday night’s celebratory party. Despite an impressive 3-1-0 record during the week, the 26-year-old golfer was among the first to leave. Her focus was already shifting to the next event, the Kroger Queen City Championship. Korda, ever conscious of her routine, wanted to make sure she hit her 10:30 p.m. bedtime to avoid feeling exhausted for the upcoming tournament in Cincinnati.

This “move on” mindset was evident during her pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. Korda, currently World No. 1, made a lighthearted joke about switching back to a competitive mentality after forming close bonds with her Solheim Cup teammates.

“Just hate all the girls again,” Korda quipped, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

More seriously, she reflected on the camaraderie built during the Solheim Cup. “It’s crazy,” she said, “the friendships that you do make during Solheim Cup when you guys are all on one team.”

After the high-pressure week of competition, which included early 4:30 a.m. bus rides to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Korda found herself connecting more deeply with rookie teammates like Sarah Schmelzel, Lauren Coughlin, and her young rival Rose Zhang, who went undefeated against Europe.

Following the Solheim Cup, Korda and several of her American teammates flew out of Washington, D.C. on Monday, arriving in Cincinnati around noon. Korda spent a relaxed evening at her rented house, gearing up for the new challenge ahead. She got her first look at TPC River Bend on Tuesday, the tournament’s new venue, after Kenwood Country Club withdrew due to course renovations.

“It’s a nice golf course,” Korda said of the venue. “First time in Cincinnati. You can tell that maybe they’ve had a drier summer so they’ve really watered the golf course.”

Even though she was in a new city, Korda admitted her sightseeing would be minimal, as she typically limits herself to coffee shops with friends during tournament weeks to conserve energy. Still recovering from the Solheim Cup, she’s resting even more than usual. “I’ve spent a lot more time in my bed this week than normal,” she shared.

Korda returns to stroke play this week with a razor-thin lead in the LPGA’s Vare Trophy race, an award given for the lowest scoring average on tour. Currently averaging 70.04, she is just .02 ahead of Evian Championship winner Ayaka Furue (70.06), who isn’t competing this week. The Vare Trophy also comes with a valuable LPGA Hall of Fame point.

Earlier this year, Korda had a commanding lead in the Vare race, but a tough summer with three missed cuts and rounds in the 80s during both the U.S. Women’s Open and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship narrowed her advantage. However, she showed signs of regaining her top form with a T-2 finish at the Women’s British Open, right before the Solheim Cup.

After the Kroger Queen City Championship, Korda will take a month off from LPGA events before resuming competition at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, starting October 17, giving her time to further solidify her lead in the Vare Trophy race.