'Tiger kids' Kordas: 'He knows who we are!'

PHOENIX – The LPGA is making its first start of the year on American soil at the Founders Cup this week, but tour pros here aren’t apologetic admitting they will be turning on their TVs to watch as much of Tiger Woods as they can between rounds.

Woods is playing the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“We’re Tiger’s kids, basically,” Jessica Korda said Tuesday. “He is our idol.”

Jessica’s sister, Nelly, said she watched every shot she could with Woods making a run at winning the Valspar Championship last week.

“I was glued to the TV,” she said.

Jessica said she was a bit overwhelmed meeting Woods at the Medalist in South Florida this past offseason. She said she crossed paths with Woods and Rory McIlroy at the halfway house while playing there.

Full-field scores from the Bank of Hope Founders Cup

“I geeked out so hard,” Jessica said.

Jessica said Woods asked her if she won her bet last season with Nelly. The sisters had a bet over who would finish higher on the money list.

“I was like, ‘You talking to me?’” Jessica said.

Jessica said she had no idea Woods even knew who she was. She told him she won the bet.

“What did you win?” Woods asked her.

“A purse,” Jessica said.

She said Rory turned to Tiger after hearing that.

“Rory goes, ‘That’s exactly what we played for, right Tiger?’ I was like, ‘OK, this is awkward.’”

After leaving them, Jessica got on the phone right away to tell Nelly.

“Tiger knows who we are,” Jessica told her.

The Korda sisters won’t be alone following Woods this week.

Anna Nordqvist is the defending champion in Phoenix, but she admitted a little regret not being home in Orlando, where the Arnold Palmer Invitational is played.

“This is a week where you kind of want to be home and watch the whole thing, maybe even live,” Nordqvist said.

Nordqvist said she watched on TV as Woods made his run at Innisbrook last week.

“I was in Dallas on Sunday, but I found myself watching as much as I could,” she said. “I want to see him do well. Everyone is watching. He’s been working hard, and a lot of people have been criticizing him for a long time. I really want to see him prove them wrong.”