DOW CHAMPIONSHIP

June 10, 2026

Leah John

Riley Smyth

Midland Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Joining us ahead of the Dow Championship are 2026 rookies Leah John and Riley Smyth. Obviously you guys are good friends. Can you talk about how you became friends and how this partnership came to be?

LEAH JOHN: Could you imagine if I didn't like her and I had to do this?

RILEY SMYTH: I'll let you tell the story.

LEAH JOHN: Okay. When I was a rookie on Epson two years ago I was at Battle Creek playing in my first event and I played a practice round and Riley and Jessica Porvasnik. They were off chatting in their own world and I was like, this girl is never going to be friends with me because she was just so confident. I was like, she's just going to walk all over me as a person.

But then, anyway, we had a mutual friend who was like no, Leah is cool. So yeah, we just started hanging out. We have similar interests with working out and schedules and stuff so we started rooming together. Yeah, and then friendship just grew from there.

But we met on Epson.

RILEY SMYTH: It was my second season on Epson so already knew a bunch people out there. Ended up becoming friends. And when I finished top 10 obviously was looking for -- was going to be looking for a partner this week, and the moment she got her card if Q-Series knew this was going to happen.

Q. You both mentioned you're rookies on the LPGA Tour this year. Can you talk a little bit about making the transition from Epson to the LPGA Tour and just being out here competing as professional golfers?

RILEY SMYTH: Yeah, obviously it's different out here of having TV out, all the media, having fans out every week. It's definitely a different beast, but it's all the same. You're still playing golf. You're playing against great players every week and just being at new venues and -- it definitely is very, very well run out here and it is a step up from Epson competition-wise, but I think Epson is great steppingstone to be out here.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, Riley -- should I add some or is that good? Riley basically nailed everything. Epson did a great job preparing us for what the schedule looks like with the pro-ams and the flow of the week, practice rounds and stuff like that. Everybody is really good out here.

The conditions change drastically week to week. You go from Mexico to New Jersey and those greens are super different.

So being really adaptable to that and having to mature in a way because you're running your own business, representing yourself and your team and caddie and all that stuff. Really matters at this level because we're televised and role models for people.

Just more responsibility.

Q. You guys have seen the course. What do you think is going to be important to succeed this week and how do you think your closeness will help you out?

LEAH JOHN: When I saw the number -- the second we pulled in I was like, we're good. You have punch-outs from the trees. Riley and I are both long so taking advantage of our length will be a strength for us, and keeping the vibes high. We support each other a lot on and off the golf course, but I would say if we take advantage of those par-5s and some of the shorter par-4s, like we should be in a really good place.

RILEY SMYTH: Yeah, and it's really nice because we are both long hitters that our style of game is very similar. I mean, I told her early in the week, there is nowhere that she can put me in alternate shot that I haven't seen this year, because, you know, I've had a ton of punch-outs, short-sided shots.

Being able to go for par-5s, I think that makes a big difference being able to play very similar style of game for the alternate shot days.

Yeah, I think the course setup is great. The course is in great condition. Just being able to attack some of those shorter par-4s. I think it's a good combination of holes, and being able to, you know, go play alternate shot tomorrow and then be able to have best ball on Friday and be able to kind of go make a lot of birdies in that format.

Q. Playing on the LPGA Tour can be extremely stressful. What does a fun team event like this at the mid-point of the season reset you and get you ready to continue on through the rest of the season?

RILEY SMYTH: Yeah, I think it's a great time of year for it. Stress levels pick up throughout the year, so being able to break it up and know that I have somebody that has my back this week, of also knowing tomorrow I only have to hit half the shots. If I miss one, I don't have to go play it.

And so just knowing, okay, I can let stuff roll off my back a little easier because I have to be here for my partner, too. I can't get as frustrated or as happy because I have to be even keel for the person next to me.

I think us being such close friends, we want it for each other as much as for ourselves, so just being able to kind of take that step up for each other, but also be able to just go have fun.

I mean, our practice rounds this week it's just loose. It's fun. And just being able to take that into the tournament, it really breaks up the season nicely.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah. Yeah, couldn't have said it better. Her and I can really make a difference in our careers for having a good week this week, and it's like what better thing to do with your friend than to play golf together and rally each other along?

Q. In your rookie season, what's been for you two the biggest surprise or the thing that was most unexpected or that you did not expect as you started your LPGA Tour season this year?

LEAH JOHN: Maybe -- I'm not sure if this is one -- but like every day someone is going to shoot like 63. I know the level of play is amazing out here, but it's just like you really have to be in your own world and think that you're the best, because every day there is someone is going to be super low and it's going to redefine how the golf course is going to be like, how you should do it.

So I think that was the biggest surprise in a way is like, whoa, we got to step up big time.

RILEY SMYTH: Uh-huh. Yeah, I think definitely that and on top of it the support out here of having fans out there every week, having people that are cheering you on and just the reach of the Tour. Just being able to see how much it has grown over the past couple years and how you're hearing from people that you never thought you would.

Just, you know, it's different when you are getting TV coverage and you're reconnecting with people that you haven't heard from in years because they had Golf Channel on in the background at their work or something. So I think that support level as well.

LEAH JOHN: Uh-huh.

Q. Following up on that, we've asked a few players in this week. So you guys experienced in this year. The LPGA goes to big markets, medium markets, and smaller markets. This is actually the smallest markets, but it's one of the Top 5 purses on the LPGA Tour. This also, you guys will see come Thursday, the entire city comes out to support this event. Following up on what you just talked about, what's that going to be like and how is that on Thursday when you have families and little girls and boys that are going to be cheering you guys on this week, how different is that compared to life on the Epson Tour?

RILEY SMYTH: So I think the biggest -- one of the best things on the Epson Tour is the fact that we do go to a lot of the smaller markets and a lot of the community support is amazing in those markets. Just being able to see how much the community invests in it, whether it's the entire town or just the club, the companies in town.

So I think this week it does feel like some of those events. And I think it's really incredible to see the town support an event so much. You go to the bigger markets and you have a lot of people come out but it's not the heart and soul of their town. It's an event that's there.

Here you can definitely feel the way that the town just loves having this event here. I think that's really, really special.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, and the vibe is fun. I mean, I love it when I see young kids and families around. When we are playing golf we can't see who is watching on TV. We hope it's all these wonderful people, but it's really nice when you can have them come to the golf course and interact.

You know, yes, I play golf to play golf, but I do it because of the people I can meet and the people I can impact. So, yes, the smaller markets are really special for that. You feel like you can really impact people.

Q. Last one from me: Juli Inkster was in here earlier as a Hall of Famer, Legend, Veteran, so she's basically been Angel Yin's mentor throughout her entire career, along with a lot of other players. As rookies, are there players you have kind of picked brains with and looked up to and played practice rounds with and just got some feedback as you started your LPGA Tour career?

RILEY SMYTH: Yeah, so I think this one goes a little bit more both of us. We've known Alena Sharp and Sarah Kemp who have been great. I met Alena out on Epson, and just being able to know people that have been out here and just love golf so, so much and are willing to kind of impart part some of that knowledge, impart some of that inspiration, and just be able to guide us a little bit has been really, really neat.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, I'm Canadian so I reach out to my Canadian crew. Alena is my connection there. Maude-Aimee LeBlanc. Even Brooke Henderson. I played a practice round with her. They've been really awesome. All very different takeaways and experiences.

Also just the international -- Canada is not super international, but there is still a little bit of a lens there that is different, and how to adapt to things on the road that way.

Yeah, they've been great.

RILEY SMYTH: And I think golf last year in Toledo we actually got to play a joint event with the Legends, so just being able to also get to meet so many of them out there. I get to play with a bunch of them back at home in Jupiter. There is a handful of them out there and I've gotten a chance to play with them a bunch.

I think that's been really, really great as well.

Q. You guys have made some great friends, obviously each other, but some of the other rookies on Tour this year. How does that support system push you through the Tour season when you're away from family and friends for so long?

LEAH JOHN: I wish this shirt could have a couple more head holes in it because I would add them.

It's kind of everything. Like we're in this together. Simple things like seeing Hailee, Melanie giving a high five, asking you how you're doing, leaning on each other when. You see your fellow rookie friend doing well it inspires and you makes you feel like you can do it too and ride that wave with them.

It's instantly a family that you can find comfort in in the beginning. It is tough. It's a hard learning curve. Super easy to feel alone and isolated. The rookie Epson crew, we kind of stick together.

RILEY SMYTH: Yeah, I mean, it's been incredible being able to come up with this rookie class.

LEAH JOHN: Uh-huh.

RILEY SMYTH: It's one of those that everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is going through their own sort of struggle at some level. You know, obviously some of the rookies of gotten off to a really hot start and that's been really great to see, and some of them not as much.

Everyone is going through the same struggle, same battles. Just being able to relate to each other and coming from the same experiences on Epson has been definitely a great common ground.

Q. And then what is your team name this week?

LEAH JOHN: Lost and Found. (Laughter.)

Q. Do you want to tell us why?

LEAH JOHN: Well, can you guess who's lost and who is found?

Q. I know lost is you, Leah.

RILEY SMYTH: Because basically we have traveled together enough at this point, and when it comes to booking everything, I book everything and she just tags along.

LEAH JOHN: I put in like --

RILEY SMYTH: You give opinions.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, I give opinions. For example if we're driving to our location, like, oh, let's go check out that farmer's market. Like we need to go see that vintage store.

RILEY SMYTH: Yeah.

LEAH JOHN: I'm very sporadic. Yeah, just go with the wind. So I think as a personality -- whereas if I have questions Riley is my walking fact sheet for the week, so she's very much the found person.

I hope, yeah, Lost and Found can do well on the golf course and hopefully just be found most of the time. We don't need lost energy out there, but, yeah.

Q. Have you guys given any thought to your walk-up song?

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, you go.

RILEY SMYTH: So it is Feel Again by One Republic. Just went with a song that we both really enjoyed. The drive up from Detroit, I was driving and so she played DJ for about 45 minutes.

LEAH JOHN: That's a Lost and Found moment right there. Let's go on Spotify for an hour and play everything under the sun until we find something.

RILEY SMYTH: And just played about 30 seconds of every song and went through basically everything you can think of to find one that we wanted to do.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah. This one just feels good. Like both of us were like, this is happiness. This is how I want to feel walking down 18.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you. Ladies.

LEAH JOHN: Thanks.

RILEY SMYTH: Thank you.