MIZUHO AMERICAS OPEN

May 10, 2026

Aphrodite Deng

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, joining us after the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open is our AJGA champion, Aphrodite Deng. Aphrodite, can you just take us through how it feels to be the defending champion and to defend your title and win again here?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, it feels really good, and to be able to win in my hometown with all the fans watching, yeah, it's really special.

Q. This is the second year in a row you played in the final group with Jeeno. Are you guys becoming friends? Has she given you any tips?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, I really look up to Jeeno. She's one of my favorite golfers. I just think looking at her swing has helped, because my mom always tells me how good it is. She was really sweet and fun to play with her.

Q. Continuing to put yourself into positions like this playing alongside the best in the world and competing and winning alongside the best in the world, how does that build your confidence and set you up as you continue to navigate junior golf?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, it's really good to see how the LPGA play up close. It helps me prove my own game, too. So, yeah.

Q. And then this was a new course this year. You won at Liberty National last year. Give us some impressions about the course and anything you feel like did you particularly well.

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, I think this course the greens are really tricky and just the long rough. So just putting myself in the right spots and not being over the pin and being able to make more putts really helped.

Q. Just as you come up to the 18th green there, seeing all those people around, what was going through your mind?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, I really enjoy playing in front of crowds, so I thought it was really cool that they were all there watching me and cheering me on.

Q. And what were some of the challenges on this final round? You win it by five points but it was tight for a while.

APHRODITE DENG: Yep. Yeah, I think just staying in my shot and being patient and not worrying about what the other girls were doing.

Just being able to put myself in good spots on the green, yeah.

Q. Congratulations. What did you pick up from being around the professionals, not just on the golf course but seeing them on the range, on the putting green, and their practice regimens? How does that help you grow as a player?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, it's really cool to see their routines and how they manage their golf game. I think they're all really calm and they take a lot of time and prepare a lot.

Q. Is there anything about this time around, this win that feels different from last year?

APHRODITE DENG: I think it just feels really good to be able to win again, and that was my goal coming into this tournament. I beat my score last year. Obviously it's a different course, but, yeah, I think it feels really good.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Aphrodite. Congratulations.

APHRODITE DENG: Thank you.