AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

July 31, 2025

Andrea Lee

Mixed Zone

Q. Good start, 4-under through 10, and then the back nine took a little. What happened there?

ANDREA LEE: I think the back nine is tougher than the front nine. There's some gettable holes on the front. I think the first five are pretty tough, and then the last probably five on the back nine, even-par is probably a good score.

I didn't take advantage of the 18th. Yeah, just didn't manage to save a couple of pars on the back. Overall, I still played really well, and I think I had a solid round.

Q. The more you play in these things, you get more experience, but you have a new place in Porthcawl that you haven't seen. Does that change the way you look at things?

ANDREA LEE: No, every British Open I've played so far has been a first look at the golf course. This is another brand new golf course and just trying to play really smart and be aggressive when I can out here. Obviously the wind is up this week with it being off the water. I'm just trying to stay really patient, just hit as many fairways and greens as I can and try to take advantage of the par-5s and the shorter holes.

Q. The bunkers are in play off the tee on every hole basically. How does that change your strategy at all, or does it?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I think you need to be aware of the run-outs. Obviously links golf, the ball runs out a lot more. Just need to be aware how the wind is going to affect the ball. If it's downwind, it tends to roll out 30, 40 yards.

I've hit a lot of 3 hybrids, woods off the tee just to take the bunkers completely out of play. Others I have to hit driver. Some of these holes are really long out here, and you've just got to hit the shot, just got to be aggressive off the tee.

Q. With an afternoon time tomorrow, will you play more conservatively because the wind is going to be probably stronger?

ANDREA LEE: I'm just going to rest. I'm pretty exhausted honestly, after this morning's round. It is, I think, supposed to be a bit windier tomorrow, but it's the same game plan.

Porthcawl has proven to be a pretty tough test so far. I don't expect it getting any easier. I think honestly the conditions were probably as good as they've been today. So I think I need even more patience tomorrow and just try to not get frustrated with the bounces and just take what this course gives me.

Q. How would you rate today's 2-under par, where it stands on the leaderboard? Is it good or really good, or where does it sit on that adjective scale?

ANDREA LEE: I think if you told me that I'd be 2-under par after the first round, I would take it. I played really solid golf out there today. Obviously I wish I was a couple shots better, but still in contention after the first round, and that's all that I can really ask for.