CPKC WOMEN'S OPEN

August 19, 2026

Leah John

Royal Mayfair Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Okay, we would welcome Leah John ahead of the 2026 CPKC Women's Open. So first, Leah, you were named to Team Canada in 2023. How does it feel to be back in Canada here and have the support the family and friends around?

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, it's the best. I have my family here, my loved ones. Everybody from Team Canada, they've helped me grow my game and become the professional I am, so it means a lot to play here in front of them and on Canadian soil.

Q. And then going off of some support, tight knit group of rookies here.

LEAH JOHN: Uh-huh.

Q. What does that kind of mean to you to have them to help you navigate through your first year on Tour?

LEAH JOHN: Oh, yeah it's big. The first year as a rookie can be a rocky one. There is a lot going on. It's nice to have rookies to lean on and feel like you're not alone out there.

A lot of us are good friends, and it's important to have people you can hang out with outside of the game and bounce ideas off. So it's huge.

Q. Lastly, noticed you were walking around with a young girl on the rink hole, the 17th there for Walk With a Pro.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah.

Q. So what was that experience like a little bit?

LEAH JOHN: It's special. I have a soft spot for kids. I remember when I was young, I was very intimidated to play golf. That's why I got into it late in the game. But it warms my heart to see young kids enjoying it, comfortable on a golf course.

Like she was chatty, too. I didn't have to do anything. We just had a great conversation. It's special. It's about what this game is all about, inspiring next generations and bringing fun to the game.

Q. Yeah, you have now played a pro-am and a practice round. Could you just give some insight into what's going to be important at this golf course specifically?

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, true Canadian fashion, our rough is dense and thick, and so I guess you could say just keeping it in the fairway is important, but having a game plan for the shots you can have and the lies.

These greens I would imagine are going to get firm and fast and this course can change a lot over the course of the day, whether in the morning, towards the afternoon, so being adaptable to the conditions.

It's fun off the tee. You can create shots, hit lines. So I think a lot of players are going to enjoy having the freedom off the tee box.

And, yeah, it can get windy, it can be calm and cool, so you get a bit of everything, which is really nice.

Q. We had a stretch of links golf courses over in Europe and now we've been back to a little bit more of the tree lined.

LEAH JOHN: Yeah.

Q. How much do you think that impacts kind of what you were saying, the ability to shape your shots and just play your game out there?

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, I think that's the beauty of professional golf, is you get to see so many different styles of golf courses and every week is a new week.

So I would imagine could be refreshing for some players to see tree-lined golf courses. I grew up playing tree-lined courses so I just feel comfortable, like I'm at home out here. I love it and I love tree shots, you know, punching it out. So it's fun.

And the cool thing about playing over in Europe, it's a different type of golf but it keeps you creative, and you'll need that regardless of what golf course you play.

Q. And then this week there are 15 Canadians in the field. Can you just speak a little bit to the strength of women's golf, especially with Brooke winning last year and continuing to be the winningest Canadian golfer, male or female?

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, that was amazing having Brooke Henderson win last year. It means a lot when you see a Canadian succeed, especially in the Canadian Open. I've had the pleasure of meeting her this year and she's a lovely person, which is so cool. As a fan you have an idea what you think someone is like and then you meet someone and they exceed your expectations.

But the Canadian Open is a really special event. The volunteers, production that's put on the golf course, everything is thought out. It makes us really proud as Canadians to be here and feel like we're representing an important organization.

And, yeah, it's really special. It's super cool to have so many Canadians out here. Maybe just a handful usually in each field, but this one we have, what is it, 16 or something like that. It's cool to see the maple leaf all over the place.

Q. Obviously this tournament gives back to First Tee Canada in a big way. You said you have a soft spot for kids. What does it mean to empower that next generation through what you do on the course and the donations you guys help raise?

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, absolutely. You know, golf is a really interesting sport. As a player you're hitting a golf ball, trying to put it in a hole, and all this stuff. But when you remember about the people that this impacts and seeing how excited the kids are when they meet you and you remember being a kid and looking up to people like that and wanting to be like them.

So I take great pride in being hopefully a role model for kids and just inspiring young girls especially that they can be strong and powerful and do what they dream.

So golf is absolutely bigger than just what we do out on the grass. It goes beyond and that's the beauty of our career and an important competitive to have when you're out there.

Q. Leah, when you take time over the last couple years, leaving Nevada, graduating, playing in this tournament in 2024, going to Epson, winning on Epson, earning your Tour card, like that's a lot of accomplishments in the span of two years. Do you ever stop to think how far you've come in such a short period?

LEAH JOHN: Thanks for saying that. It's been a difficult season this year, and so I've had to remind myself that there have been a lot of wins and successes that have happened along the way. It is wild to think it's only been two and a half years since I graduated college. I feel like I've lived a lifetime already out here.

But it is sometimes hard to reflect. I think that's why your parents and your team are important, to remind you of where you started and how far you've come. It's in our nature to keep looking forward.

But, yeah, I'm just grateful to have the opportunities that I do and it's really exciting we can make the most of it.

Q. That's a great segue to my next question. Had the opportunity to meet your mom and dad in Calgary at the hotel, and she was quite nervous for you heading into 2024. How is she doing this week? Is she a bit more calm, bit more excited than nervous for you?

LEAH JOHN: She seems way more calm. I'm chuckling because my parents I think chatted with everybody here. I mean, when she still when she is watching me has that intense factor and feels nervous for me, but she's definitely loosened up to the life now.

But that's funny. I remember that in 2024. She was so nervous. Now they're chill.

Q. Leah, you talked about the challenge of this year and going through your rookie season. What's been your number one learning?

LEAH JOHN: That things take time I think, and that you can't rush experience. As much as I would've loved to have had like a top 10 finish and all that stuff under my belt by now, the conversations that I've had with my caddie and understanding about my own process and what's important to me week in, week out, you just can't rush that.

Sometimes I look back and I'm like, ah, I wish I knew that sooner. That's the whole point. You're not supposed to know sooner. You're supposed to know when you know now. I think that's probably it.

Q. Is that something you try and share with the next gen group? There is a lot of, you know, Canadians in the field, young Canadians maybe you've crossed paths with in the program. Can you speak to the talent coming up and as well some of the things you like to share with them?

LEAH JOHN: Yeah, the talent coming up this year is incredible. They inspire me. But I do try and remind them -- it's funny, because when you're in college and high school you're just like, I want to play professional. It's like crunch time. Here I go. Then you turn professional and you're like, oh, my gosh, I had so much time. I shouldn't have rushed into it so hard, like no stress.

But at the same time, that stress and urgency is what you need to get there. I do remind them there is a lot of ways to get there and you truly never know when it's going to happen. I wanted to quit golf before I decided to play Q School and Jen (indiscernible) was like, just give it a shot. I was like, okay, so I went and played and then I crushed it and that's what set me up for the rest of my life.

So I encouraged them to just remember like things are still going to happen for you. How you think you're going to get there might not pan out the way you want it, but it's just whatever path it takes.

THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Thanks for joining us so much, Leah. Best of luck this week.

LEAH JOHN: Thank you.