Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: LPGA Golfer has six tournament wins. She turned pro in 2010.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 130
DOB: February 27, 1993 In: Bradenton, FL
First Golf Memory: “Just my mom (Regina) and dad (Petr) taking me to the range here. Either whether it was here at El Con or Ledbetter Golf Academy. Because my parents moved here in 1992.”
Golf Inspirations: “I always really looked up to how Tiger Woods played golf. That’s kind of my generation, who they looked up to. I got to know Jack Nicklaus pretty well. So obviously those guys. And (I) got to know Nancy Lopez. She was one of my junior Solheim Cup captains. And then just as I keep playing I feel like I always have a new inspiration in whoever’s coming up. So it’s cool.”
Last Book Read: “I like the Dan Brown books. Like Da Vinci Code and what the heck is the one that came out in the movie? I can’t remember right now.”
Current Car: “An Escalade (black).”
First Famous Golfer You Met Or Encountered: “Alex Cheka, he’s German/Czech, I actually grew up watching him practice all the time. Grew up with Michael Campbell. I watched him, especially when he won the US Open (in 2005), which was really cool. We had the same coach. I got to meet a lot of them just being at the David Ledbetter Academy so it was pretty cool.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning that first title in Australia (2012). Not only winning it in Melbourne but just the history that the Kordas have there is cool (father and sister Nelly and brother Sebastian all won major titles there). (Sudden death playoff?) It was sudden death seven-person playoff so it was pretty cool.”
Most Painful Moment: “I would say just losing. Knowing that you have the chance to win and putts don’t fall, it just doesn’t go your way. And not being able to come out on top. I’ve obviously had a lot of failures in my short-lived career so far but I feel like I learned from every single time I failed. So it only gets me better.”
Favorite Tournaments: “I like a lot of the tournaments obviously I love the majors. That’s where it’s at.”
Favorite Sport Outside Golf: “Tennis and hockey.”
Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: “I love watching Federer, Nadal and Djokovic play. I think they’re really awesome. I love watching guys play hockey. I think that’s really cool to see all the young guns starting to come up. My generation … see how they’re playing. And obviously golfers – Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Ricky Fowler – they’re really, really fun to watch. And they’re awesome guys in person.”
Why Do You Love Golf: “It makes my happy. Not only me but I love inspiring the next generation. I hope that by me having fun out there, it might inspire a little boy or a little girl to pick up the game because they see how much fun I’m having. And just see where it takes me and the opportunities that present it gives me. So hopefully inspiring kids is something that I can keep doing.”
Funny Golf Memory: “I have a lot of funny memories. I don’t know if you have enough time for all of them [laughs]. I’ve had beginners where they’ve made divots on the putting green. Because they don’t know that they have to make a small putt and all the sudden they came out with a big divot. I did a clinic and I was so nervous because it was my first clinic – 17 years old – and I think I chunked my first three shot and I’m like: ‘This is how you don’t do it [smiles]!’ I have a lot of embarrassing stories. But the fun moments…obviously spending time with friends, playing games and traveling the world.”
Strangest Experience In Golf: “Not really. You obviously have the mob trying to get you for signatures and you’re trying to sprint into a safe place. So you don’t get eaten up by all these people that want autographs. But that only happens once every so often.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I like genuine people. And I like happy people. Positive people.”
Jessica Korda wins 2021 Diamond Resorts Tournament Of Champions
(Note: I did this Biofile with Jessica at the ATP Challenger tennis tournament in Bradenton, Florida at El Conquistador Tennis Club where she was supporting her brother Sebastian’s match vs Blaz Rola. I have done Biofiles with four Kordas – Petr, Nelly, Jessica and Sebastian, but not the mom, former top 25 WTA pro Regina. – SM)
