MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC

June 15, 2021

Sarah Burnham

Blythefield Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the media center at the 2021 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.

Without further ado, joined by Michigan State alumna and new Michigan resident, Sarah Burnham. Thanks for stopping by.

SARAH BURNHAM: Thank you for having me.

THE MODERATOR: Take us through. Where are you living now that you're a new Michigan resident and what made the move to Pure Michigan work out for you?

SARAH BURNHAM: All right, so I'm a former MSU grad, so I just decided to stick around. I live in Howell, Michigan and it's just great because I can go back and use the facilities at Michigan State. I have a great coach who allows me to do that still.

I have a lot of Spartan pride and it's really good to be back home.

Q. Is it your swing coach currently or just an old college coach?

SARAH BURNHAM: Just my college coach. Yeah, coach Slobodnik-Stoll.

Q. So you still have a good relationship.

SARAH BURNHAM: Yeah, and actually, her husband is my caddie out on tour, so close with her family and just all really works out.

THE MODERATOR: Nice. So this is your third start in the Meijer LPGA Classic. Take us through what makes this event special, especially being alumna of Spartan Nation.

SARAH BURNHAM: It's really special. I got a sponsor exemption spot when I was in college back at MSU, so it's a really special event. My dad caddied for me there and it was my first LPGA event was here. So yeah, it just brings really good memories. I just love the course here at Blythefield.

Yeah, it's great.

THE MODERATOR: Speaking of the course, I'm sure you saw some of the changes. They added some tee boxes, all the bunkers are new, about 300 trees were taken out. Take us through some of the changes and maybe how it changes a game plan for this tournament.

SARAH BURNHAM: Yeah, well they took out the tree on No. 4, which I believe is originally hole No. 2, so that's a big change I think right there. And then bunkers, they're awesome. I love the new sand. They added few more, took out some trees, so, yeah, I really like the new layout on the course and some more like false fronts off the greens and stuff, so I think it will be a good test.

THE MODERATOR: Is it more challenging?

SARAH BURNHAM: I think it's a good challenge, yes. I think it's more challenging around the greens. Yeah, the tee shots -- I mean, bunkers are definitely in play, but it makes the shot look pretty out there. So, yeah. I guess it's nice looking.

Q. Wanted to get your thoughts, and I know we kind of already talked about it, but just coming back obviously -- hold on. Let me pause for a second. Did you grow up in Michigan or did you just kind of find Michigan...

SARAH BURNHAM: I did not grow in Michigan. I grew up in Minnesota. So I actually came like south for golf to play at Michigan State, but it's pretty similar to Minnesota. I kind of just stayed out here after college.

Q. Got you. Okay. Thanks for that. But just coming back to a place that you've called home for the last handful years to a tournament that means a lot to you, just what does it mean to come back to this tournament and kind of get back to the roots, so to say?

SARAH BURNHAM: It feels great. I mean, I grew up on this type of grass and stuff, so I hope it can benefit my game this week. And just, yeah, knowing the Midwest area is always fun just to be home. We travel so much, so it means a lot just to be back.

Q. A lot has been made over the last year obviously with safety precautions, and this is the first event on the LPGA Tour since February of 2020 where there is no restrictions on fans. I would imagine there is quite a turnout this week. Michiganders love their sports and getting outdoors in the summer. Do you anticipate some nerves with some fans finally being back on the course? How different has it been and what do you anticipate welcoming them back to be like?

SARAH BURNHAM: Yeah, so the U.S. Open had a few fans and that was kind of a big difference from last year. It was so quiet. So just remembering to stay focus and not let some little noises bother you that weren't there last year but now they're there.

So just keeping your focus. I'm really excited to have fans, because if you can't see a shot like up to the pin or on the green and you get some claps you're like, Okay, that must be good. Or if you don't get any claps you're like, Oh, I don't know what happened there.

So that's always fun to have the fans cheering when you have a good shot or something.

THE MODERATOR: So Meijer and partners have donated over $6.3 million to the Meijer for Simply Give Program through this event over the years. And new to the tournament this year, the winner - obviously you're out here to win every week just like everybody else - but the winner they will donate $25,000 to the food pantry of the winner's choice. Is there a food pantry or organization that you've worked closely with that's maybe near and dear to your heart that comes to mind if you were the find the winner's circle this week? And how awesome is that for a sponsor to be giving back like Meijer?

SARAH BURNHAM: Yeah, I mean, it's so great. I'm that you will it Meijer wants to donate and that the winner can donated as well. I would say Feed My Starving Children. I worked a few of those when I was in high school I would say, I guess, just with my church and stuff. So I think I would maybe give to them if I were to pull off the win.

THE MODERATOR: A win on home soil would be awesome.

SARAH BURNHAM: Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: The Aon Risk Reward hole this week is the par-5 14th. Just seeing what you see in the course and what it's like out there, what makes that hole a challenge?

SARAH BURNHAM: Well, there is a river I believe on the left side. There is a few trees as well. So, I mean, I think the risk there is probably off the tee.

I haven't played it, but I think that's where kind of the challenge, is off the tee, and then also it can go too far.