MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC

June 17, 2026

Taylor Kehoe

Katie Lu

Blythefield Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, very pleased to be joined by two of our sponsor invites this week, Katie and Taylor, Michigan State alumna. Both of you playing a first in a way. Katie your professional debut, correct?

KATIE LU: Yes.

Q. Taylor, your first LPGA start?

TAYLOR KEHOE: Yes.

Q. How excited are you to share these firsts with each other?

TAYLOR KEHOE: To be able to have this experience with her is really special. We kind of went through college together and now we're coming out and starting like pro life sort of -- I'm still an amateur -- but in the future together, which is really cool to see the growth of us both.

KATIE LU: Yeah, it definitely means so much to me just to be able to compete on the biggest stage alongside Taylor and being kind of in familiar territory; we have a lot of Spartans here out supporting us.

So just a really great environment and makes it better that Taylor is here, too.

Q. I was going to say, probably some support for both of you this week. Lots of family and friends. What's the crowd going to look like this week for you?

TAYLOR KEHOE: A lot of my family is coming. We have some of -- both of our coaches are coming at some point. I have so many like friends coming. So it's nice because I live pretty close, too, so Michigan State is close and my home is close.

I think it will be a great crowd and get to represent Michigan State out here, so I'm very excited.

KATIE LU: And I've got to see a lot people that I haven't seen in a long time, just a lot of Spartan alums. And even out there we've already gotten a bunch of, Go, greens. It's just nice to be in an environment again where, yeah.

Q. Shifting gears to on the course, both of you I am assuming have got to see the course a little bit. How does this course suit some of your strength and what are looking forward to most taking advantage of out there?

KATIE LU: I love the tee shots off the tee. I think there is some shots where you really have to focus in on the targets just because of the angle coming into the greens.

Then the greens are rolling really good. They're going to slow down a bit after the rain. But for me I'm living in South Carolina right now as my home base, so being back on bent grass, I definitely missed it.

You know, hitting that pure shot in the divot kind of; you get a beaver tail or it explodes and all that. So it's nice to play a course again like this.

TAYLOR KEHOE: Yeah, I really love this course. I think it's a great LPGA course. It's going to be really fun to kind of see how the course is going to play after the rain we're going to get today.

So definitely slowed down a bit the greens. They're rolling really good. But I just love this course. We got to play it a few times while we were in school so it's kind of familiar, which is really nice, too.

Q. Could you each share your reaction to getting the invite and being in the field this week?

TAYLOR KEHOE: Yeah, did not expect it. I was going to play in the Monday qualifier and then Cathy Cooper called me and she told me that there was an exemption spot for me. I was really excited because this is my first one. It's so close to home so all my family was super excited for me.

And then just having the experience of playing alongside all the pros, it's really cool. Being just graduated and kind of wanting to go this route, it's cool for me to learn from the best and see how they practice, how they prepare.

So I'm just trying to take everything that I can out of it.

KATIE LU: Yeah, I mean, I was just like Taylor. I was so excited to get the exemption. I played in this tournament two years ago as a junior and that -- this was kind of the turning point for me and made me realize that I wanted to pursue professional golf.

To be able to come back now as a professional with different goals, already kind of familiar with the environment, it meant so much when Cathy let me know that I got the exemption.

Q. What was it that sealed it for you?

KATIE LU: First, the little girls that were all out there. You give them a signed ball or a simple picture and their whole world changes. Seeing how much of an impact the players on this stage have for the next generation just really opened my eyes.

And I love playing in front of the crowds and just the days heading before the tournament, too. Everyone here you can tell is just 100% committed to their craft. And just like the same reason why I committed to Michigan State, we're surrounded by all great players and it pushes me to be the best I can. In this environment with all these players, I mean, it's hard not to improve, so...

Q. What advice do you have for your friend as she prepares to make her debut this week?

KATIE LU: I would say Taylor, keep on doing your thing. I mean, you deserve to be here just like anyone else. At the end of the day it's just golf. You just do what you've been doing for so long because that's all you need.

TAYLOR KEHOE: Thanks.

Q. Taylor has there been a pinch-me moment yet?

TAYLOR KEHOE: Well, I got my pairings and I get to play with Brittany Lincicome, so I'm excited about that because she obviously has had a great impact on the game.

And then I think just playing in the practice round, getting to see all the girls. Played with some obviously pros in the practice round and just see how they prepare, and that's been really cool.

Q. You mentioned you got to play here a couple times. Does that give you more comfort and familiarity knowing this course?

TAYLOR KEHOE: Yeah, I think so. I'm definitely still very nervous but very excited. I think it's nice to kind of know the course a little bit extra, have some extra rounds in different conditions, because we haven't always played this time of year.

But obviously I practice on bent all the time, which I think will be very helpful for me because it's very comfortable. So I'm very excited.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thank guys for your time. Best of luck this week.

TAYLOR KEHOE: Thank.

KATIE LU: Thanks.