BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 30, 2021

Ally Ewing

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Joined by Ally Ewing, a 3&2 winner in your semifinal match at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play over Ariya Jutanugarn. This was the first match you played all week you never trailed. Was that a little different?

ALLY EWING: It was, and I would probably say in some shape and form I played a little bit more tentatively, which I think mentally I just need to make an adjustment. I think even fatigue, mental fatigue set in on some holes, some shots, a short putt that I missed on hole 8.

Just I've knowing that the fatigue is there, I need to be a little bit mentally sharping going into the afternoon.

Q. Happy anniversary, by the way.

ALLY EWING: Thank you, thank you.

Q. Start the anniversary celebrations off right. Your husband is here.

ALLY EWING: Yep.

Q. A year later after being married, what's it like to be in this position, to put yourself in this position with your husband here?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, it's great that he's here. Obviously he has a super busy job being a college golf coach, and recruiting is opening up pretty soon. Thankfully he was able to be here this week.

And playing well and having him here, it's been great. It certainly doesn't feel like it's already been a year, but it's been a great year for sure.

Q. You mentioned that even if it was a flat walk it would still be tiring, but the hills of the course make it much more so. Despite hydrating extensively, take us through that, when you might not be able to see that different elevation on TV, but just how dramatic it is, especially in these conditions.

ALLY EWING: Yeah, let's just say it's really hot. I'm going through my shoes because I'm sweating, and I've never had my feet this taped up just from all the elevation, side-hill walks, uphill walks, hot temperatures, 36-hole days. That's not something we do very often on the LPGA.

It's just a little bit different of a grind this week. But certainly when you signed up for the week you said, Hey, if I can play all those holes then it's going to be well worth it.

Q. How would you measure your energy heading into the final round?

ALLY EWING: Currently it's pretty low. I'm going to go in and get some rest. I know we've got I think at least a couple hours until we tee off. Get some food in my system and some more water, maybe electrolytes, and just try to get off my feet and mentally recharge, physically, and be ready to tee it up this afternoon.

Q. Nice that you can get off the course when your opponent is tied through 15.

ALLY EWING: Yeah. I think we're to a point where we're all getting pretty tired. Shanshan I know played 41 holes yesterday, so everyone certainly had their shape and form of fatigue. It's mentally tiring because you're doing something different than a typical week just playing stroke play. You're playing against someone else, so you're constantly having to stay on top of thinking every shot they hit could go in.

So it's a different mental battle too. I think on a normal week it's kind of easy to step off to the side between shots and let your mind rest. You kind of got to be mentally prepared to make the next shot in case your opponent makes it while you're resting.

So I think, yeah, mentally just being ready this afternoon to stay sharp no matter who I'm playing.

Q. Going back to leading the entire time today, never falling behind, did those experiences in the matches this week when you were trailing and you had to fight back and then you can kind of in a sense cruise on paper, did all that really prepare you for a championship match?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I think 15 I didn't make a very good swing but I knew I was in to the driver's seat, 4-up with four holes to play.

So on 16 I hit my drive a little left. Didn't hit a very good punch shot from the left, but just told myself if I could get a ball up there next to the green to have a birdie putt, hopefully might apply a little bit of pressure knowing if I can two-putt she's got to for sure birdie.

So I just tried to tell myself I was in the driver's seat. If I take care of the shots I need to, I should be able to pull out the win. Yeah, just take care, stay in my own lane, kind of like I have all week.