THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 16, 2024

Stacy Lewis

The Club at Carlton Woods

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, in the media center here at The Chevron Championship, joined by Stacy Lewis, past champion of this event. Talk a little bit about this event and maybe what that win for you few years ago meant to you.

STACY LEWIS: More than a few years, but, I mean, for me it was a springboard to my career. First win, going up against Yani. You know, it really kind of put me on the map and gave me the confidence to compete out here.

But just to see the move kind of evolving after the last couple years and what Chevron has done to elevate this event, we saw the purse today, and it's been really cool to see.

They're pushing the envelope with this tournament, and I like it. They want to make it special for us, and last night was certainly a testament to that.

Q. What's it like to have a major in your home state?

STACY LEWIS: Well this is hometown, not just home state. This is as hometown as it gets for me. I know I have a lot of hometown tournaments it seems like, but The Woodlands is where I grew up. My parents still live in the same house that we lived in growing up that's pretty close by.

It's really cool. It's something I never would've imagined as a kid. To be able to bring this tournament here and to see The Woodlands get on board and all the little girls to have the opportunities to come watch this tournament, that's what the most special to me.

Q. Just give us your thoughts on what Nelly is doing right now and what impresses you the most.

STACY LEWIS: I'm not surprised, I will tell that you. It's very impressive. Four very different golf courses. And the three weeks in a row I think was the most impressive.

The amount of energy it takes to do that, I thought you would've maybe seen a little drop in play at Match Play just getting a little bit more tired.

But the ball striking has always been so good for her. Short game gets a little better, the confidence to be in that position. I think that's what you're seeing more now.

That's was why I put her in the spot I did at Solheim, because I felt like she could handle that moment. She had to learn. She had to learn how to handle it.

I'm not surprised. I knew it was just going to be a matter of time.

Q. How does the LPGA capitalize on her fine play? And the follow-up would be what's Nelly's responsibility?

STACY LEWIS: You know, I think Nelly does have a responsibility, and she probably doesn't always want it, just knowing her. But it's saying, yes. Continuing to play great golf though is No. 1. That's what helps our tour the most is her playing great golf. I would tell her, is to remember that.

I would tell her to do as much extra stuff as you can for us. We got to continue to push our TV partners to help us get more coverage. I was disappointed to not see that entire match on Sunday on TV. I just felt like you're really probably looking at a twosome, three to three and a half hours of golf, and I was really disappointed we didn't get that entire match on TV.

So those little things like that we have to push. We have to push out partners to say, how can we make this happen. It's getting creative. Maybe changing tee timing, playing earlier, later, whatever it is. We got to figure out a way to be more visible.

Q. What are some of the extra stuff you would like to see Nelly do?

STACY LEWIS: Well, I mean, every week she needs to be in here talking about it and how good she's playing. I don't know what that's going to be, what that looks like for you.

I've been in her shoes. I've been the No. 1 in the world and top American, and you're asked to do a lot of things. But give the media a couple hours every week. That's what she's going to have to start doing.

Like I said, her playing great golf, that's what pushes us more forward than anything.

Q. Talk about the course itself. Underwent some renovations since the last Chevron. How is it playing differently in your eyes?

STACY LEWIS: It's funny, without knowing exactly what they did, you would probably go out there and be like, it really doesn't look that different. It's very subtle things. On 18 here, that wall of the water being moved closer to the edge so that bank is now a few yards from the edge of the green. I think it's probably half now of what it was, so the water becomes more in play.

Brought some bunkering in off tees to make some tee shots a little bit more challenging. The biggest challenge this year is the firmness, and that's just new greens. Everybody is going to have to adjust.

Officials are going to have to adjust to help us out so it doesn't get goofy. All in all, I like the changes. Made some holes a little bit more difficult, so I think -- and it's in great shape. I mean, I think it's very impressive how the greens have come out being brand new. They're in great shape.

Looking forward to seeing it next year and how fast we can get these greens going next year.

Q. What are you juggling right now with the Solheim Cup? What's the latest?

STACY LEWIS: Everything. Working on the schedule of the week and some extra things I have planned. We're done with all the soft good kind of clothes all that junk is all done. Now starting to track players a little bit more, who is trending in which direction.

Yeah, there is still lots of phone calls and things happening.

Q. Did you make any tweaks to what you were tracking and monitoring based on what you saw from the last Solheim Cup?

STACY LEWIS: No. This process is going to be very similar. We learned a lot seeing who is trending in various directions so you can kind of predict who is going to start playing better.

And it worked. I mean, the majority of what we did worked actually. There is really not a whole lot of changes other than getting there -- I'm making a couple visits to RTJ the next couple months I guess. So getting some information on the golf course and how it's going to play and what type of player is going to play best on that course.

You know, that will be kind of the majority of our work for the next few months.

Q. How closely are you looking at players this week and what they're doing? Is it still too early?

STACY LEWIS: No. I'm always watching. I'm always watching. Doesn't matter what tournament it is. Yeah, major obviously is important just because the amount of points that are available, but I'm always watching. I want to see how they're playing, are we trending up, are we trending down, how do they play in the big moments, how do they handle pressure situations, whether that's trying make a cut or being near the lead.

I am always watching. It was pretty cool to see Angel come back in Vegas. Actually very impressive. She broke her ankle and came back and had a great week.

So it's just little things like that. But I'm always watching.

Q. For your future aspirations, what goals do you still have for your golfing career?

STACY LEWIS: My golfing career? Well, I'm on the latter half of my golfing career I would say. I would like to get myself in contention again and have another opportunity to win. Feel like I got maybe one or two more in me.

Been playing a lot better the last month or so. Been a lot more comfortable on the golf course. I am actually pretty excited with my golf game is right now.

Q. Beyond playing, are you interested in other roles within golf, such as coaching?

STACY LEWIS: Goodness, I feel like I have five jobs already. Yeah, I mean, I'm honestly at the point in my career where it's -- not that you're thinking about what happens after, but I've been on the LPGA board and been involved in a lot of these tournaments that you start to think of what is next and what is possible.

Right now it's getting through Solheim Cup and see what happens there. But I don't know. I'm excited to see what my life looks like post-golf. I have a feeling it'll be somewhere in the golf industry. (Smiling.)

Q. As far as the course this week, Stacy, with how firm it is and the adjustments that have been made around the greens, in your preparation are you working through different ball flights or additional shots, adding to your bag going into this week?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I think it's really more strategic of where are there some ridges that you can use to help the ball stop into greens. I think you're going to see people have to maybe play smarter into some holes and play away from a pins depending on wind direction.

Wind direction is going to be key to this golf course. Can you work the ball? Can you cut it? Can you draw it into the wind to help to stop into the greens?

So coming from what we were playing on in Shadow Creek was pretty good preparation with the firmness. I think you'll see most people manage it pretty well. You'll see some greens, if they get downwind and we get so the wind going, they're going to be pretty tough to hold.