MARATHON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY DANA

July 7, 2021

Stacy Lewis

Press Conference

CHRISTINA LANCE: Welcome inside the media center here at the Marathon Classic.

Stacy, welcome back to Toledo. How does it feel to be back?

STACY LEWIS: It's great. We've already had family time together, and just always love coming back here. It's such a fun week for me to get to see all the family and come back to a place you're comfortable, so it's good week.

Q. CHRISTINA LANCE: A year ago this was one of the beginning tournaments outside of the COVID break. You went from here to Scotland where you won for the first time as an LPGA mom.

STACY LEWIS: Yes.

CHRISTINA LANCE: What's it been like the past year in this COVID era?

STACY LEWIS: It's crazy to think it's been a year since -- I guess not quite a calendar year, but just all that we've gone through with the testing and the different protocols to get to where we are today having fans, doing a pro-am, having a pro-am party last night.

It's just nice to have things back to normal a little bit. Have some energy back on the golf course. It's not so quiet. Kids running around is the best thing. So I'm glad we are where we are now.

CHRISTINA LANCE: I know this community means a lot to you and you mean a lot to this community. What is it like to be able to, as you said, have these things go back to normal, but seeing some of the bells and whistles that you're used to every year that we didn't get last year?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, you come back to a week like this, there is volunteers in the same spots every hole. You know the guy that is on the bridge by 8. You know different people. It's just nice to see the familiar faces again year after year like this.

We've made such an impact on this community over the years that we need to keep coming back. There are so many charities impacted by this week. That's really what this week is about.

CHRISTINA LANCE: What are you liking most about coming back to Highland Meadows? What is it about this course that you like?

STACY LEWIS: You know, I think the biggest thing, I would be proud to be a member here because they're making improvements every year we come back. They did the driving range a few years ago, the bunkers I guess about a year ago now. They did all the bunker renovations. Doing renovations inside the clubhouse. They're making an investment in this golf course and it keeps getting better every year.

You never have to really worry about the condition of this one when we come here. Just they're making an investment and they want it to be great for us, so that's really nice.

CHRISTINA LANCE: And in just a couple months' time this place will also host the next Solheim Cup. I know you were able to play Inverness on Monday and also -- oh, you weren't.

STACY LEWIS: I couldn't get here in time.

CHRISTINA LANCE: Oh. I know you are part of the Reynolds... (Zoom feed froze.)

All right, going to start, I'm just going to read you the Solheim. I know you weren't able to play on Monday. We were talking about Inverness and how much you played it over the years. For you, what does it mean to this community to be able that host an event like Solheim in just a few months?

STACY LEWIS: It's going to be unbelievable, unlike anything that people here have seen. They've seen the Marathon Classic over the years and it's just going to be so much bigger, so much louder.

The first tee is the coolest experience I think of the whole week, so it's just unlike anything else we have. It's the best event in women's golf. Going to get people from all over the world coming to northwest Ohio, so it's going to be great from that side. It's going to be great for the community as well.

But all the events they're going to have going on downtown kind of a round opening ceremonies, concerts and all kinds of stuff going on. So just going to be a fun week I think for the whole community.

CHRISTINA LANCE: Questions.

Q. Solheim, to build off that a little bit, how important is the next couple months, especially for the American players, being here? Is there that buzz among players? And how much are you guys pointing toward that here?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I mean, as far as making the team, absolutely. I think everybody is watching that points list. We all know you finish top 20 you get points to move up. So everybody is paying attention to that, and it's hard to throw it in the back of your mind and just go play golf.

But it's important for to us keep playing well. The Americans have been playing pretty well so far this year. Lizette and Nelly had a good showing at KPMG. They keep building on it, but it's going to be a hard team to make this year. You can go down probably 15, 16 players that could legitimately make the team.

Q. I know you talked about how important it is for the area, but you individually to be able to play again here, what would that mean for you?

STACY LEWIS: It would be unbelievable. It would be everything. To be born here -- this was my first LPGA event was here in Ohio. My parents are from here. It would mean everything to play in this tournament. I don't know, I love Solheim Cups. I love -- it's so special.

But it would be probably be one of the highlights of my career.

Q. You came here, what, 10, 12 years ago as still a college player?

STACY LEWIS: Uh-huh.

Q. I mean, I think you missed the cut, didn't you?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah.

Q. But as many struggles as you had here it's gotten better. You're looking at possibly playing in the Solheim Cup.

STACY LEWIS: Uh-huh.

Q. Could you ever imagine that 10, 12 years ago?

STACY LEWIS: No. I mean, I think of -- when I was a kid it was a Jamie Farr Classic, but we would come back every 4th of July weekend when I was a kid and come out and watch the tournament.

To come from there to playing in this event to maybe one day having a chance to win, to then playing in a Solheim Cup in this area, I mean, it's crazy when you really think of it.

There is not -- I don't know if there is anybody that's really gotten to play a Solheim Cup in a town they're from like that, so it would be really special to do that.

Q. Last year's tournament was just weird for everyone. How weird was it for you?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, we were able to steal a couple passes. I think my parents and I got two other people out, so kind of stole a few passes and got a few people out.

Last year in general was just weird just with the no fans and all the different protocols we had to go through to be able to play.

So it's just nice to we're past that. Hopefully. I feel like we're past it now and we can just get back to doing what we do.

Q. You're such a great advocate for the game. Seems like the last couple years there has been an increased emphasis on pace of play. You're generally a pretty quick player.

STACY LEWIS: Yes.

Q. Is that encouraging? Are you encouraged to see the LPGA enforce it?

STACY LEWIS: Absolutely. I think when I get put on the clock on the golf course because maybe I'm playing with people that are slow, I'm okay with it. Let's get people moving and get this game going. I want this to be fun for the fans to watch, and I just don't think it's fun when somebody takes two minutes to hit a putt.

At some point even I'm that way. I start looking around. I'm half paying attention. So we got to keep this game fun, keep it moving. We've got to keep it enjoyable. People watching is what drives our sponsorships, drives everything, so I see it more from at that side than anything.

Q. And just speaking of that, where do you think we are in terms of TV coverage for the tour? It continues to get better and better, but most weeks it's on taped delay. This week it's two hours of live coverage.

STACY LEWIS: Right.

Q. How do you get fans, more fans?

STACY LEWIS: Right, it's better but still frustrating I think is where we are. You look from maybe seven eight years ago where we were tape delayed a lot to now it's just we a couple, handful of weeks.

You look at last week in Dallas. We had to be on from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. instead of being on in that afternoon time slot, which is when most people are watching and looking for sports.

So we have a long ways to go with TV. It's the kind of thing that we need money to be able to spend to get the better TV, and so it takes sponsors and different people stepping it up and saying, I'm going to invest this money now so that five years from now we're in a different position.

Q. After playing well last week, coming in here how do you feel about going into the tournament?

STACY LEWIS: I feel like I'm trending in the right direction. I was really encouraged by last week, especially because it was a golf course that I don't like and I don't -- haven't really been comfortable on in the past.

So just the fact that I was able to hit some good shots and kind of mentally be really solid, I was more happy about that than anything.

So I'm really encouraged with where my game is. I always feel like I'm here trending getting ready for the British Open. You just want to keep playing a little bit better every week. I feel like -- I do feel like I'm getting close.

CHRISTINA LANCE: Questions from Zoom.

Q. You've talk about this a little bit with going throughout COVID protocols, but what were some of the hardest parts for you over the past year?

STACY LEWIS: Trying to get a two-year-old to wear a mask on an airplane, which she still won't. I think the worst for us was the dining situation, where it wasn't until about maybe a month and a half ago that we could actually go out to dinner somewhere.

So we had to go get takeout and take it back to the hotel or take it back to wherever you were staying. So for me, I mean, just with my daughter, that was the hardest part I would say. I guess the frustrating part was just not having fans out. That's why we play this game. That's one thing I'm glad is better.

Q. How difficult was it to corral a two-year-old and go get takeout tournament over tournament?

STACY LEWIS: Oh, it's horrible. Mommy, I want to eat inside. I want to eat inside. We can't. We have to go back to the hotel. So you get creative. We started going to the park and eating at the park. It has picnic tables.

You get creative and we got through it, but I'm glad we're on the other side of it.

CHRISTINA LANCE: Two more before we wrap it up. We were talking off camera about getting here to Toledo. You had an interesting thing with your daughter. What was it like getting a two-year-old on the late-night airplane?

STACY LEWIS: Well, it was a late finish in Dallas. I didn't get off the golf course until about 6:30, so there was 8:45 flight that there was no way I was going to get her and get to the airport in time.

The other option was 5:45 am, which I'm not doing with a two-year-old. The next option was 11:00, which doesn't put you here in Toledo until 5:00 in the afternoon.

So it was a long trip getting here, but Pat understands, and I think she -- it was a good reason. I was in those last couple groups, and she would rather see me play good golf and miss one round at Inverness.

CHRISTINA LANCE: How confident and comfortable do you feel in your game? I mean, it's the Marathon Classic. You represent Marathon proudly on your chest. What does it mean to be playing so well at this moment off that good start to be at a tournament that sponsors you?

STACY LEWIS: Well, it's nice. One, there is extra things going on this week, so just kind of makes all that easier.

But just having the comfort level of playing this golf course a lot. The I don't need to go out there and grind on the golf course. I know to hit it, not to hit it, more importantly probably.

But I guess just the comfort level. Just so thankful for Marathon for this week and what they're doing for the Solheim Cup more than anything. What they've done to bring that tournament here is unbelievable, so looking forward to the week. Had a fun day with them today. I'm sure more to come.

CHRISTINA LANCE: Thank you for the time, Stacy.

STACY LEWIS: All right, thank you.