U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

June 1, 2021

Kaitlyn Papp

The Olympic Club

Press Conference

Q. Afternoon.

KAITLYN PAPP: Hi.

Q. I won't be shy. I'll start it off, Kaitlyn.

KAITLYN PAPP: Okay.

Q. Are you less nervous for this tournament because you've already played in two U.S. Opens and you were a top 10 in December?

KAITLYN PAPP: I don't think so. I feel like if anything I kind of know like what to expect. I know USGA like kind of like where they like to put the holes on the green. They like to exercise the corners, and I know it's going to be a test really the whole week.

So I just know that you really have to stay patient with yourself out there no matter if it's going well or not. You just have to mentally stay tough through the whole week.

Q. I talked to Coach Murphy and he said you're one of the most organized, structured, regimented people he's ever had. Could you give us some examples of how organized and detailed you are going into this tournament?

KAITLYN PAPP: I feel like in general I kind of have a routine that I like to stick to, whether it's practice or practice rounds, tournament rounds.

I mean, when it comes to practice I just try to make sure I get every aspect of my game dialed in whether it's putting, chipping, driving. Especially this week at the U.S. Open, because it really tests all parts of your game. I guess I just try to be as organize and time efficient as possible so I get whatever I need to do in.

Q. I was just going to say congratulations on the engagement. I want to know how it went down. Are you tired of talking about it yet, or have you had to tell the story too many times?

KAITLYN PAPP: No. Well, thank you. So he proposed at Burton Creek, at the resort. He tricked me into saying that we were going to out to celebrate his birthday early, and so we got all dressed up, and sure enough, it happened. So it was definitely a really sweet surprise.

Q. Was there any golf involved or just a straight proposal?

KAITLYN PAPP: It was on the golf course. It was just off the 9th hole at Foothills I believe and he had set up a little flag that said, Will you marry me? It was cute.

Q. Congratulations.

KAITLYN PAPP: Thank you.

Q. I know your Texas career didn't quite end the way you wanted it to, but pretty special to get to the quarterfinals, I know. Can you reflect just a little bit on what an incredible career it was? You leave with one of the greatest scoring averages in the history of the have school, everything you did to make Texas great over the last few years, can you just kind of reflect on what it means to you and what your career was like.

KAITLYN PAPP: It means a lot to me to have had a great four years at Texas. I feel like I played good golf during my time there, but also I made a lot of meaningful relationships and friendships that will stick with me forever.

I feel like I've just really grew up as a person. I got a really quality education while I was there, so feel like my four years has prepared me as a person and a golfer to kind of go in the real world and I can tackle whatever comes my way.

Q. How hard was the ending versus realizing how special everything was in the moment to even get to that point?

KAITLYN PAPP: I think I was a little bit sad when I realized, wow, my college career is over. I'll never get to do this again. I know I'll always represent University of Texas no matter what I'm doing, whether I'm playing golf or not.

So I think it was just kind of bittersweet. But I'm also ready to see what happens in my life after college.

Q. When you're going down the stretch on a Sunday are you going to be wearing burnt orange? Do you have a color picked out?

KAITLYN PAPP: No. I kind of pick my outfits on the fly or maybe a day or two before depending on the weather. So no, I'm not picky.

Q. You said your time at UT helped you grow as a person and a golfer. How did you grow the most over those past four years?

KAITLYN PAPP: It sounds cliche, but I think time management, balancing school and golf. Even as I transitioned to more golf than having to do schoolwork, I think just trying to get my practice in, quality time, and spend enough time on each area of my game.

And also I learn not to spend to much of my energy, because especially at tournaments like this in the practice round where you have a whole week ahead of you. So I feel like I've learned to kind of pace myself and be patient.

Q. What part of your game, whether it's something on the course or something in your mind, are you most confident in?

KAITLYN PAPP: I think my wedge play I'm most confident in. Yeah, definitely full wedges I think are my favorite shots.

Q. Talk about last year's U.S. Open. You finished in the top 10. You're right there neck and neck with the winner in the last pairing. Describe that final Sunday and what that did for you.

KAITLYN PAPP: That final round was definitely a grind. The weather wasn't great, so I feel like the weather was kind of a nice distraction not think about being in the top 10 or whatnot.

So I just had to focus on staying warm and trying to tackle each hole one at a time. At the end when I made birdie on 18 I feel like I just let myself enjoy the moment.

Q. And one thing I've always heard about you is that you flush the movement. You hit a bogey in a hole and then it's gone. You're able to put it behind you. You have that kind of laser focus; is that true? And where did that come from?

KAITLYN PAPP: I think I've always been taught to hate bogey more than I love birdie, so like that helps with like golf strategy, but also I feel like I don't get overly excited when I have a good hole, like a good par save or good birdie.

But that also means I can't be too down on myself when I have a hole that doesn't really go my way. I feel like I try to balance my emotions on the golf course.

Q. Is it because you were able to do what you did at the U.S. Open you feel like maybe you're not as far away as some youngsters coming on to the tour to really make a big splash?

KAITLYN PAPP: That week definitely gave me a lot of confidence just because I knew in practice and in college events I felt really good about my game and ball striking and putting.

But I just really wanted it to come together on the big stage, so to do that last year really meant a lot to me mentally. So I think I can take a lot away from that experience and kind of move forward in my career.

Q. And if you're going to be a really special player on this tour, what do you think you need to do better? What do you think is the next big step for you to become the elite player you want to be on the LPGA Tour?

KAITLYN PAPP: I've heard a lot about short game just from different players around. Short game is a big difference on the tour, and just kind of honing in every aspect of your game. But I think short game is the main thing I've heard makes a difference.

Q. What excites you most about being a pro?

KAITLYN PAPP: I think I'm excited just to meet new people, get to travel, and play golf. (Laughter.) I mean, I feel like that's probably a pretty cool job is to play golf.

So I think just kind of soaking in this the whole experience and getting to travel and play a lot of cool courses.

Q. A lot of these young ladies started when they were young teenagers. You look at Lydia Ko and Michelle Wie and people like that. They're in their teens. I don't know if you're feeling old at 23, but relative to your sport do you feel like you got to make up for lost time because these young players have been on the tour so long?

KAITLYN PAPP: Not really. I think every person has their own path, and for me staying in college all four years worked for me. But for those players turning pro at 15 or 16, worked well for them.

So I don't really feel a huge rush or feel like I'm behind so to say.

Q. Uh-huh.

KAITLYN PAPP: And I've been told by Kate Gold and others the tour is always there, so that kind of helps me not be in a huge hurry or feel like I'm behind compared to other people who started when they were younger.

Q. Have you talked to Kristen a whole lot? I don't know if you have had a practice round together. Tell me about your relationship and how you kind of tap into her brain.

KAITLYN PAPP: Yeah, we played a practice round today, and I think we are again tomorrow. While we're at home practicing I feel like she gives me little bits of advice here and there, whether it's about traveling or like short game, working on short game out there.

So I feel like her and I's friendship has helped me when I play in these tournaments for sure.

Q. Teach you how to pack for a week? Those are details you got to learn.

KAITLYN PAPP: I've learned it is hard to keep your bags under 50 pounds when you're traveling to the airport. Somehow you just got make it work.

Q. Is there anybody else on tour you're close to or that you know well that can help you through this stuff?

KAITLYN PAPP: There is a handful of girls that I played junior golf and college golf with that I know and still talk to who play out here, so I think having like kind of that group of people who I've kind of grown through each stage of golf with, it's handy to have a friendly face on the putting greens or play a practice round with.

I think it's nice and gives me a little bit more comfort.

Q. Have you started to establish career goals?

KAITLYN PAPP: Not really, not specifically. I mean, my main goal at the end the year is to do well in Q-School. That's kind of the big goal of the year.

But ahead of that, I mean, kind of depends on how I do at Q-School. Obviously my dream since I've been little is to play on the LPGA Tour.

Q. I was just going to say, win the U.S. Open this week. That would make it pretty easy, right?

KAITLYN PAPP: That would be nice. (Laughter.)

Q. Your dad teach you how to play the game?

KAITLYN PAPP: Uh-huh. Yeah, my dad introduced me to golf when I was about six years old. He played golf recreationally so he would just bring me to the golf course just to hang out, and I eventually wanted to start hitting, putting, and chipping, and so from there he kind of taught me the basics of golf.

And then after that, I got an instructor. So, yeah, he was definitely a big part in how I started to play golf.

Q. Is he on your bag this week?

KAITLYN PAPP: Yes, he is.

Q. You exploded on to the scene. You won twice as a freshman, I believe.

KAITLYN PAPP: Yes.

Q. Are you surprised you didn't win more considering you set all the records for scoring average?

KAITLYN PAPP: I mean, I don't know. I try not to focus too much on my results and like winning. I mean, would have been nice to have another win my last three years, but I feel like as long as I was progressing in the right direction towards my overall goals and dreams, then that's really all I could ask for.

Because even if you play good golf you don't necessarily win all the time.

Q. Exactly. You know what, where are you going to live and when is the wedding?

KAITLYN PAPP: No date has been set yet. We're just kind of chilling just because I have a lot going on this year.

But I'm going to stay in Austin for sure.

Q. Great. And what is Chuck Cook done for you? I know you've been with him for a long time, haven't you?

KAITLYN PAPP: I been with Chuck for almost four years now. He's done a lot for my golf game just kind of getting everything a little bit more sharp, whether it's my putting, learning how I can chip the ball better, and with swing and teaching me how I can get a little bit more power out of my golf swing through technique and a little bit through fitness, too.

He's definitely helped me a lot the last few years.

Q. Great. Can you teach us right before you go here, give us some piece of advice for our game? What is your best advice for amateur golfers?

KAITLYN PAPP: I think short game is very overlooked, so if it you hit a couple bad shots but you make one good putt, well, I mean, the putt can save you a par or whatever.

So I think short game is the most important for any level of golf.

Q. And your fiancée is a golfer, right?

KAITLYN PAPP: Yes. He played golf at College of Charleston for two years.

Q. Where did you meet?

KAITLYN PAPP: In high school at Lake Travis.

Q. Lake Travis?

KAITLYN PAPP: Uh-huh.

Q. I'll ask the normal question: Do you have to give him strokes when you play?

KAITLYN PAPP: No. We still do matches on the weekend sometimes. But, no, we play Lakecliff in Spicewood and we play from the tips and we do match play against each other or we'll team up against some other people and do like best ball.

So we're definitely really competitive.

Q. Can he beat you?

KAITLYN PAPP: Yeah, uh-huh, he can.

Q. Be honest.

KAITLYN PAPP: Yes. Uh-huh, for sure.

Q. Like 50/50 or what?

KAITLYN PAPP: I think so. (Laughter.)

Q. Just like a marriage, got to be 50/50. (Laughter.) What is his name?

KAITLYN PAPP: Jake Budde.

Q. Can you spell his last name?

KAITLYN PAPP: B-u-d-d-e.

Q. Great. And I assume he'll be following out there. Are they allowing full fans or...

KAITLYN PAPP: Yes, I'm not exactly sure how many fans are allowed this week, but they also gave us tickets, so my dad, Jake, my mom, and sister are here with me this week.

Q. Will that add to the stress? Because there weren't fans at Champions, were there?

KAITLYN PAPP: Not really, but it still felt like there was a lot of people there between media and then other people's family and close friends. So wasn't exactly empty, but it will being nice to have more people out there. More people to cheer when you hit good shots.

It'll be nice to have some more fans this week.

Q. Will that add to the stress?

KAITLYN PAPP: No. Uh-uh, it doesn't. I mean, I try not to tune into things outside of like what I'm trying to do, like hit the fairways and greens, so crowds don't really bother me.

Q. Good luck this week. We appreciate the time.

KAITLYN PAPP: Thank you. Appreciate it. Good talking to you all.