Nelly Korda out to become golf’s Simone Biles but USA star’s main goal in Paris is to eat viral pastry treat

Nelly Korda will have her sights on gold again in the Olympic women’s golf event but she’s also got her eye on a sweet treat to celebrate.

USA superstar Korda edged out Japan’s Mone Inami and Lydia Ko of New Zealand to win gold in Tokyo three years ago.

Korda is the hot favourite for golf gold in Paris

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Korda is the hot favourite for golf gold in Paris
She’s now the red-hot favourite to make it back-to-back Olympic titles in Paris this week.

Korda has won six times already this year including major glory in the Chevron Championship in April.

While gold will be her focus at Le Golf National, she’s also keen to enjoy some of France’s best delicacies before she’s tees it up.

As with all the golfers at the Games this summer, they’ve been asked a few simple questions ahead of their tournaments.

‘Nells’ has revealed her goal in Paris is to ‘try a crookie’ – a viral pastry combining a cookie and croissant – as well as playing ‘some good golf’.

Korda will also be looking to follow in the success of US poster-girl Simone Biles after revealing her favourite sport at the Games is gymnastics.

Korda’s American team-mate Scottie Scheffler romped to victory in the men’s event with a stunning final round on Sunday.

But he was also typically understated when setting out his goals before the action got up and running.

Scheffler, the undisputed world No.1 and Masters champion, simply said he wanted to ‘have fun’ in Paris before blitzing Le Golf National with a course-record 62 to take the title.

Korda will no doubt have taken inspiration from Scheffler’s stunning win and is ready to go for gold again herself.

Korda is not putting too much pressure on herself
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Korda is not putting too much pressure on herself
She said: “It doesn’t really feel like I’m defending, really. I’m just going to go out, enjoy the experience, hopefully entertain the fans.

“The men had amazing fans out here. I was wowed by how many people are out here watching and just happy that I’m back in this position.

“I’m here representing my country. I’m a two-time Olympian and I’m living out my dream.

“You have to hit the ball really well out here. You know, the rough is thick from what I saw from the men, too, and what I saw.

“Just have to golf your ball out this year this week and make sure that you’re in the fairways.”

Korda’s team-mate Scheffler won gold in the men’s golf
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Korda’s team-mate Scheffler won gold in the men’s golfCredit: AFP
On her gold in Japan, she added: “Getting to share the Olympic experience, even though it was very unique with not getting to watch other sports and not having fans out here, at least get to go share that with my sister was such an amazing experience.

“I didn’t really know what emotions I was going to have until I stood on the stage.

“As a kid, I watched so many athletes and all their raw emotions on that podium when their flag goes up and the National Anthem.

“And when I finally got to do it myself, there was a massive rush of emotions that went through me. I had a couple of tears roll down my face.

“It was an amazing experience, obviously, and I cherish and I’m grateful for every situation I’m in, every single time I can go down the stretch and I’m in contention.

“When it comes to majors and an Olympic medal, that’s the reason why we are out there so long and grinding and pushing ourselves in the gym and on the golf course is for those moments.”

Korda will get her campaign up and running on Wednesday at 9:55am UK time alongside Jin Young Ko of Korea and China’s Ruoning Yin.

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