KROGER QUEEN CITY CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY P&G

September 9, 2025

Vidhi Lakhawala

TPC River's Bend

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Okay, very pleased to be joined by one of our sponsor invites for the week, Vidhi. Just talk about your excitement to be back in Cincinnati; not playing the same course obviously, but after win the Women's Western Junior.

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Yeah, it's great being back here in Cincinnati. Holds a lot really great memories for me, so to be able to come back and play my first LPGA event is something that's really special and will carry on for the rest of my life.

Q. Obviously led me to my next question. First time teeing up with the girls on the LPGA Tour. What are you most excited for, most ready to learn? Anything like that from our players?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Yeah, I'm just really excited to soak in the whole experience and also to be able to play with professionals who do it for a living. So to kind of watch them and learn how they practice, how they play, how they prepare, and to be able to learn and take it and grow my game through that.

Q. Anyone in particular you're excited to meet, pick their brain, play with, anything like that?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Yeah, there is a lot of big players over here, so probably like Nelly and Lydia Ko. Just I always -- I look up to them and watch them on TV, so it's super cool to be in the same field as them and be able to watch them firsthand as they practice, prepare, and play this tournament.

Q. Two wins this year with the AJGA. How do you take that experience playing so well and then bring it over here on our Tour?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Yeah, it's just a lot of confidence in my game and I know that I can win and I know I can perform well, especially under pressure. So bringing that to this bigger stage is pretty important.

Q. When you won the Women's Western Junior, you had family and friends here, so you're going to have family and friends with you this week. What is the entourage for Vidhi on the first tee on Thursday?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: A lot of family and friends coming. I'm staying with some family here in Cincinnati and so it's nice to be able to go back home. And also a lot of friends and family coming in from different parts of the state to cheer me on for my first LPGA.

Q. When you were here for media day, you played the course a couple times and practiced. Thoughts about the course?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Very long. Longer than what I'm used to playing, but nothing that I can't handle. Greens and everything are -- the course is in great condition. Greens are super firm.

But it's a great course, and, yeah.

Q. How does to maybe suit your strengths?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Well, I would say I'm a pretty accurate driver, so to be able to hit fairways is super important. Also I'm a good iron player and know my distances well, so taking that into account.

Q. On the LPGA we have a program called LPGA USGA Girls Golf and their motto is: Little Girls, Big Dream. Was this a big dream for you, playing in an LPGA event, and how much fun and how much are you looking forward to achieving that dream this week?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Yeah, it's always been a dream to play an LPGA event. Super lucky that I was able to get my first start at a young age, so just looking forward to all the experiences and everything.

Q. You're going to have a platform to really inspire little girls that might've been like you growing up that really wanted to play out here. What would you tell those young girls in terms of pursuing their dreams on the golf course and off the golf course?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: I would say to love what you do and work hard and just stay motivated and stay committed to the process.

Q. Have you had any pinch-me moments this week pulling into the property or heading to the practice range, of really like, oh, my gosh I'm here and I'm doing this?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Yeah, I was playing a practice round today and there were two little boys there carrying the pin flag with some markers. They asked me for my signature and that was my first time, and it was kind of a pinch-me moment. Before I was asking for signatures and now I'm giving them.

That was kind of surreal.

Q. Had you practiced your autograph before this week?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Not as much as I should have. I should have practiced it a little more. I'll get there.

Q. Vidhi, what players have you got to interact with so far this week?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Not too many. I got to play a practice round today with Cassie Porter and Nanna Koerstz Madsen, so two vets on the LPGA Tour. It was really cool talking to them and learning from them.

Q. What were some of those lessons you were able to take away from watching their games?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: I think just seeing how they composed themselves and how they went about the golf course and the practice rounds and interacted with each other was really cool.

Q. Do you remember when this idea of competing out here on the LPGA for the first time, when it became a dream for you?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: I think probably when I was first went and watched my first LPGA Tour event. I watched the ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey and watched a lot of players who are competing this week, so it was my dream to play an LPGA event just seeing how the whole course set up and how the LPGA players get treated.

Q. How are you feeling about that first tee on Thursday morning?

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: A little bit of nervousness and a little bit of excitement. Just excited to tee off on this big stage and play with a bunch of really great players.

THE MODERATOR: Perfect. Thank you so much.

VIDHI LAKHAWALA: Thank you.