“I was just impressed with his whole demeanor” – Nelly Korda recalls experience playing with Tony Finau at Grant Thornton Invitational

Nelly Korda said that she was impressed with Tony Finau's demeanor while playing alongside him at last year's Grant Thornton Invitational.

Korda and Finau teamed up at the inaugural Grant Thornton Inviational last month and finished T4 at 23-under. In a recent interview with the Golf magazine, Korda opened up about her experience playing with the six-time PGA Tour winner.

The former World No. 1 golfer revealed that she hardly knew the PGA Tour star before the Grant Thornton Invitational. However, they had met during the Masters at their common agency's residence. She said:

"I got to meet his wife, all of his kids, and I'm pretty sure his dad and a couple of his cousins. So the whole family came, and we hung out, watched them bowl. There was a bowling alley in the house, which was pretty cool. Unfortunately, I was very sad when I found out that his family wasn't going to be there that week. The whole Finau crew."

She added:

"But you know, I was certified Fresh, Finau Fresh. I think that was the tip of the iceberg, that was a cherry on top of the week. But I was just impressed with his whole demeanor. He's such a positive person, and it's so fun to be around him. He's very, very genuine, and his work ethic is really, really impressive as well."

Korda will be back in action this week at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. The season opener of the LPGA Tour begins on Thursday, January 18 at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida.

Korda didn't register any wins last year, but was able to make nine top ten finishes. She finished the year as World No. 5 in the Rolex Women's Golf Rankings.

Finau, on the other hand, remained winless last year and made 20 cuts in 24 starts including five top-ten finishes. He began this season with the Sentry 2024 and tied for 38th. He will be in action this week at the American Express, the third event on the PGA Tour 2024 season schedule. Last year he had finished joint sixteenth at the La Quinta.

How did Tony Finau perform in the 2022-23 season?

Here's a look at Tony Finau's performance in the 2022-23 season:

Presidents Cup*: 1
World Wide Technology Championship: CUT
Cadence Bank Houston Open: 1
Hero World Challenge*: 7
Sentry Tournament of Champions: T7
The American Express: T16
Farmers Insurance Open: T9
WM Phoenix Open: T14
The Genesis Invitational: T20
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard: T24
THE PLAYERS Championship: T19
World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play: T17
Masters Tournament: T26
RBC Heritage: T31
Mexico Open at Vidanta: 1
Wells Fargo Championship: T23
PGA Championship: T72
Charles Schwab Challenge: CUT
U.S. Open: T32
Travelers Championship: T45
Rocket Mortgage Classic: CUT
The Open Championship: CUT
3M Open: T7
FedEx St. Jude Championship: 4
BMW Championship: T37
TOUR Championship **: T20
Hero World Challenge*: T4
Grant Thornton Invitational*: T4