The pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational, on 10 December 2025, witnessed a sharp one-word correction from Nelly Korda. It was a sleek defense favoring her partner, Denny McCarthy, when the moderator mistook the event as McCarthy’s first appearance at the mixed-team event. But Korda stepped up to correct the moderator, extracting a quirky comment from her partner. 

The duo previously paired up together in the 2022 Grant Thornton Invitational (previously known as the QBE Shootout). They tied for the fifth spot with a score of 27 under par. No wonder Korda had to correct the moderator, saying, “Second.”

The interjection prompted instant amusement. McCarthy responded, “She corrected you. Wow! That’s what partners are for.” This brief exchange confirmed that the duo was set for great chemistry. 

McCarthy used the moment to reflect on his previous outing with Korda before the tournament became a mixed-team event. He noted that they “had a great time” during their earlier partnership and expressed the excitement he feels whenever he gets to play with Korda.

“Anytime you get a chance to play with Nelly, I was looking forward to the opportunity,” said Denny McCarthy. “We had a great time three years ago. Our caddies have become good friends through that event, through that year that we played, and they're even staying together this week. We're kind of getting the band back together.”

But there’s a good reason why McCarthy likes to play with Nelly Korda. 

Denny McCarthy Took Inspiration From Nelly Korda

As the conversation continued, the moderator inquired if the pair had learned anything from each other. Korda went first, claiming that she “learned so much from the guys.” McCarthy was no different. “He rolls the rock really well,” she admitted before putting up a strong stance for the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational. 

McCarthy's story was no different. In fact, the golfer confessed to using techniques he picked up from Nelly Korda. “This place has some nasty into-the-grain shots, and her short game really showed off that week. I feel like I kind of stole a couple of her little techniques that she uses on her short game that I can kind of use to this day,” said McCarthy. He then proceeded to thank his partner for the moves. 

Needless to say, their shared history and mutual trust position them as one of the event’s more compelling teams. But is it enough for them to claim the win? Give us your opinion in the comments.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi