ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL

July 28, 2021

Alice Hewson

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. We'll start off with last week, first time at Evian. How exciting was that, and you made the cut. What was the experience like?

ALICE HEWSON: It was a really great experience. Like I said, first time making a cut at a major, so I think that was a big step for me, so very happy with the way I played the first few days. Lots to learn from my play over the weekend, but that will come with experience. So yeah, overall very positive week.

Q. Anything specific that you maybe looked at and you're like, oh, I really learned a lot from that experience?

ALICE HEWSON: Yeah, I mean, just to see how the girls kind of tackled that course, a course that I found a bit challenging, and obviously they shot quite low scores. I'd say a little bit of distance, but just kind of consistency was like one of the biggest things, like keeping it out of the rough because it was really penal.

Q. Earlier this year, the Scandinavian mixed event, you finished third and then T6 in the London event, which was a team series. Just to be part of those and the different formats, how does it suit you, and are you able to mix it up from stroke play to a team event to this kind of format well?

ALICE HEWSON: Yeah, I've really enjoyed all the different formats that we've had this year. We've got three more team events to come up over the year, obviously here, Sweden. I just find them like exciting weeks, and it definitely mixes it up. So I just go and try and have as much fun as I can.

Q. When you have an event with men, you have a men's group ahead and behind you, what's something maybe that you learn from them and then what do you think just watching the men's game, what do you think is something they might take away from you?

ALICE HEWSON: Yeah, I think we have a lot to learn from the men's game. I feel that they play quite aggressively, especially around the greens and on the greens. For me personally that's where I'd like to see my game trend a little bit more to the way that the men play.

But I think the women play a very different game, as well. I'd say that overall we're a little bit straighter, a little bit shorter but a bit straighter. I think it's all about finding that balance to get the perfect round.

Q. Balance is a good thing. So the Scandinavian, that was a pretty historic event, and this one is, as well, the first tri-sanctioned event in the northern hemisphere between the LPGA, the LET and the European Tour. What's it like to step foot on the grounds and to compete in a field that kind of goes down in history?

ALICE HEWSON: It's really exciting, and it's definitely an honor to be a part of like the first one of each event. Scandinavian mixed was the first of its kind, but all of these weeks, I just really enjoyed being here, and I think it's so great to see more of those mixed events and I'd like to see more of them in the future for sure. But yeah, just really happy to be here and be a part of them.

Q. You finished second in the Rookie of the Year last year and 11th in the race to Costa del Sol and you're currently eighth this year in your second-year rookie campaign. That's always fun. Solid season; has there been anything that stands out as to why you've had some good success this year or are you just trying to enjoy each tournament?

ALICE HEWSON: Just played really solid so far. I actually got off to a bit of a rough start to the year over in the U.S. but came home, worked quite hard on the mental side of the game, and then the golf has taken care of itself really from there. But yeah, the mental side has kind of been the biggest focus of the year for sure and will be something I'll continue to work on as the year progresses. But having fun on the golf course has been one of the biggest keys, like finding the love again, and it's been going well so far, so just kind of hope to continue for the rest of the year.

Q. You say find the love again. Was it not there for a little bit?

ALICE HEWSON: At the start of the year I was finding it definitely a little bit tough. I was away from home for quite a few weeks, wasn't enjoying that too much, and you never enjoy playing bad golf. Yeah, just kind of came back to basics a little bit, and it's working.

Q. You went to school at Clemson if I'm not mistaken.

ALICE HEWSON: Yes, I did.

Q. When you were at Clemson were you kind of wishing you were back home sometimes? Do you really find yourself comfortable on the courses over in Europe?

ALICE HEWSON: I think it was a mix. I absolutely loved my time at Clemson, and I think being part of a team, I really enjoyed that experience, and it kind of helped with the fact of being away from home. But versus turning pro where you're over there in a different country completely by yourself, no kind of support structure around, it definitely made it difficult, and I think I struggled in that environment.

Just kind of coming back to where my team is, where my family is and getting kind of back to square one has been like really important for this year.

Q. If I remember right, I did see some name on some Symetra Tour leaderboards this year.

ALICE HEWSON: Yeah, I didn't play very well in those.

Q. How many events did you play?

ALICE HEWSON: I played four at the beginning of the season.

Q. What did you take away from what you saw? Obviously you've seen LET fields and courses. When you got kind of a Symetra taste, what was the difference like?

ALICE HEWSON: Yeah, the standard over there was definitely very good. Yeah, playing a few different golf courses, I'd say I wasn't playing my best golf, so it was kind of hard to compare myself to those fields, but I enjoyed my time over there, just kind of having a bit more fun on the LET at the moment, so I'll probably stick around here a little bit.

Q. Two different courses this week, obviously, Galgorm and the Massereene course. How does that affect preparation and is it a little more challenging having to think about 36 holes on two different courses?

ALICE HEWSON: Yeah, it definitely mixes it up compared to normal weeks. I mean, it's obviously different in that we're only playing the Massereene once this year where potentially Galgorm three times, so I'd say a little more preparation here at Galgorm rather than the Massereene course. But again, same as always, just one shot at a time and try and have fun. We've got the yardage books there to help, so even if there has been a little bit less preparation over there because of weather, it will be fine. We'll figure it out.

Q. Any goals you have for this week in this event?

ALICE HEWSON: I mean, just take it one shot at a time. Yeah, just kind of stick to my golf, stick to the way that I play, and the scores will take care of itself.