MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC

June 15, 2023

Minjee Lee

Blythefield Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Minjee Lee. Minjee, 4-under day. I know you were talking a little bit about 33 putts, but 4-under. Overall, how do you walk off this course today?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I mean, I played pretty solid the front -- my back nine, which was my front nine today.

Yeah, I mean, I was kind of trying to ride my momentum into the front nine, but I had a few misses here and there.

So I think I kind of stopped my momentum in the middle and then I made two birdies later and then I bogeyed the 9th hole, so, yeah, I mean, overall I think I'm striking it really solid, and hopefully get my putter in line and then I'll be okay.

Q. What is it about this back nine that you're able to take advantage of some of those holes?

MINJEE LEE: I feel like the whole golf course was -- it's in great condition, but there are a lot of holes where you can be quite aggressive, and a lot of the par-5s you can be quite close to reaching the green or, you know, on the green.

So there is just quite a lot of opportunities with wedges and things like that, so it's nice to be able to go right at the pins and hole some good putts.

Q. When your momentum stalls a little bit, what's the challenge of trying to recapture it?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I mean, I just told myself just to keep giving myself opportunities on the green, and obviously hit the fairway, hit it on the green, and then the putts.

So, you know, I just try to take one step at a time, assess the shot in front of me. I think that helps me keep grounded and stay focused.

Q. Lots of birdies out there today. Do you have a couple highlight birdies?

MINJEE LEE: Not really. I think they were just kind of solid. I holed a few longer putts in the beginning and then a few shorter ones on the par-5s.

Yeah, they were just a mix of some good holes.

Q. Coming into a tournament like this where you know scores are going to be good, you have to go low to win, what does it do for you to -- I know you weren't necessarily super happy with your round, but 4-under is going to give you a chance. What does that mean to come out with a 68 in the first round?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I feel like I'm striking it pretty solid, so I think I can give myself a lot of opportunity for birdie.

The conditions today after that little rain shower, it was perfect. There was not really a breath of wind and it's very gettable today. I think the weather is going to be pretty good the next few days, so hopefully I can keep being aggressive and hole some putts. More putts.

Q. What's at that like preparing for this event? I know we haven't seen you since Mizuho. What was at that like to take that week to get ready for what we have tough us this summer?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, actually played Baltusrol. Had a look on Tuesday after Mizuho, so did that and went home for maybe three or four days and then I came here.

So not really a rest, but more training. We're right in the middle of our season now and a lot of majors coming yeah, so got to be on the game.

Q. What are you working on specifically, especially after a round like today just knowing you got your taste of Baltusrol and this is kind of that prep for that?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I mean, obviously the grass is a little different, although the rough around here is quite thick. But I don't know. It's just a different feel of the golf course.

I think you can't really prepare for that golf course when you're playing a tournament at a totally different golf course.

Q. Yeah.

MINJEE LEE: So probably just committing to the shot, more like good pre-shot routine, you know. Yeah, I think just going kind of through the bag and seeing where you're not as comfortable and trying to get comfortable before going to KPMG is probably my goal.

Q. Being able to see the golf course, what were your impressions of Baltusrol? What did you think that course will ask of you?

MINJEE LEE: Oh, yeah, I actually loved it. It's a great championship golf course. I think the venue is going to be great, and then great turnout.

I know all the girls are probably going to love it, so I think there is a mix of really challenging holes, short holes, some with water, some with blind shots.

It's a mix of everything. When I went to see it I had a lot of fun playing it, so, yeah, I'm looking forward to going back.

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