BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 26, 2021

Stacy Lewis

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Stacy Lewis, nice 5&4 win. Seemed pretty steady. Got off to a quick start winning the first few holes. Mi Hyang battled back but then you cruised in from there. You love match play. What was if like out there today?

STACY LEWIS: I guess strangest part is that there is not a whole lot of people watching. I'm used to match play with thousands of people around, so that part was a little strange.

But this golf course is growing on me the more I play it. I feel like it's a ball striker's course. If you can really think your way around you can play pretty well. Our match was tight front nine. Made birdie on 9 and really from there just kind of cruised.

Made a good up and down on 10 to win the hole.

Made a long putt on I think it was 12 to win at that hole.

So Mi Hyang probably didn't have her best stuff today, but glad to get the win.

Q. You said the course is growing on you. What were you first thoughts? It's a beast of a golf course, it's huge. We're hearing people say it sets up well for match play because it's a risk/reward course.

STACY LEWIS: It is. You can make some numbers, but there are a lot slopes you can use to your advantage. Kind of used some knowledge from the local caddie that was with our pro-am group yesterday, kind of picked his brain a little bit on a few holes.

It's really a thinking man's golf course. I think that suits me pretty well.

Q. And also match play suits you well. Long time Solheim Cup player, back to Curtis Cup, amateur days. Are you happy to have match play back on the schedule?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, it's fun. It's maybe not as stressful as normal, but smaller field events, they're really taking care of us this week. Girls that aren't here, you should want to be here. This is such a cool week with everything they're doing for us. The golf course is absolutely perfect.

So it's been a great so far.

Q. Later in the year, September Inverness Club, Toledo. I know Pat is out here. You weren't able to play two years ago. Are you primed to try and make your way back this year to the team?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, ever since it was announced, Marathon was the one that -- Gary with Marathon kind of 6spearheaded the whole thing, and from that moment it's been how can I make that team?

I really want to be there. I really want to be playing. I want to be a part of the team. I want to help the team win. Pat is out seems like almost every week right now watching, so just trying not to pay attention if she is hanging around, but I know she's watching and paying attention.

Q. Your game has been rounding into form. You've been playing really well; played well today. How do you feel heading into the rest of today and next week's major championship?

STACY LEWIS: I'm really excited. You know, I just haven't put four rounds together. I've had two or three good rounds, and so it's been a little bit frustrating, but I know it's close. I have Joe here this week just kind of working on fine tuning some little things I need to get driving the golf ball better for Olympic. That's been in my head for the last month or so.

So I really like where things are and we're going to keep working on to this week.

Q. I want to quickly ask you about the new commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan. I know she's new to all of us and you're probably just learning about her like I am. What are your thoughts on having a woman at the helm and as we say good-bye to Mike Whan?

STACY LEWIS: It's definitely going to be a little sad with Mike. It's going to be a transition for all of us. He had a unique way to lead, and I think it grew on all of us of. At first you're kind of like, this guy is crazy.

But I really think it grew on all of us. So Mollie definitely has a challenge ahead of her. I do know that. We have some sponsorships, yeah, so things aren't really handed to her on a silver platter. I'm excited to meet her. I want to sit down and talk with her and kind of see what she has in her head, but also things what are in my head that I think we can do going forward.

But it is, I mean, just to have someone that I think loves golf and loves our tour, is number one.