CURTIS CUP

August 25, 2021

Sarah Ingram

Rose Zhang

Rachel Heck

Press Conference (Zoom)

Team USA

Q. I just would like to know a little bit about the last couple of days getting acclimated to Conwy and just kind of what the first few days on the ground have been like and the focus has been.

RACHEL HECK: Yeah, it's been so much fun. We've had the best time as a team. First of all, of course, getting to know the course. It's our pleasure to play Conwy. It's absolutely beautiful. It's in perfect shape. We've always all wanted to play links golf. Rose played a little bit last week.

More importantly, I think we've had so much fun bonding as a team. We went on a beautiful hike. It felt like a dream. We toured a castle. We've had fun in our team room just hanging out and getting to know each other even more. It's been a really fun few days. I know we're all ready to get started tomorrow.

ROSE ZHANG: Yes, I couldn't agree more. The bonding we have on this team is simply amazing. Our team spirit is everyone's in high spirits. We're all having so much fun. We played as fivesomes before the entire team came because of Q-school. We bonded so well with caddies and just had the time of our lives.

Especially being in a different country just representing Team USA, everyone couldn't be more honored. So it's just been such a ride.

Q. Do you have some idea of partnerships? Has that been something that Sarah has worked with or paired you certain ways?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's going to come out soon, but captain Sarah has some plans already, and we're not sure if we can say them yet before they come out.

RACHEL HECK: I think tonight we'll figure it out. It's exciting.

ROSE ZHANG: Stay tuned.

Q. I just asked the girls, but I would like to hear from you too. You have your full squad, I think, there, and hopefully we'll hear pairings soon. I am curious what your theory or your strategy has been trying to find who works well together or who plays well together. What have you focused on?

SARAH INGRAM: Just, well, we had the five that started out here, so it was good to have a good look at that group. And I don't know, I guess I maybe need to keep the pairings secret for now. Just like personalities, like similar golf games, people that -- you know, I asked the players, actually, who they're comfortable with and what formats they're comfortable with. That was helpful to me as well. We'll see how it goes.

Q. I asked captain Elaine this too. I thought there was an interesting tidbit in the media notes that Elaine had actually beaten you in singles when you guys were both players. I'm curious what you might remember about that match, if anything.

SARAH INGRAM: I don't actually. I must have blocked it from my memory, so I don't really remember much of the match, and I actually had to look back to see how I did in that Curtis Cup, and I did see that she beat me. I'm out to avenge my loss there. These girls are going to do it for me.

Q. It was pretty lopsided at Quaker Ridge four years ago. Obviously, you're on foreign soil this week. How do you -- talk about that but also kind of rally the girls to go out there and play hard. I don't know kind of what your inspirational message has been or maybe the thing that you've been telling them in the locker room.

SARAH INGRAM: These girls are so good that I feel like they've got it. I'm not sure I can tell them all that much. I'm here to be supportive and to give them confidence, help boost their confidence. Just send them out there. They're great players. We get along really well. We're having fun and being relaxed and maybe trying to slide in a tidbit here and there. They're going to do well.

Q. Rose, one more question, if I could. You got a little tune-up at Carnoustie, I think, but just this is a different kind of golf and acclimating to this kind of golf, what did you have to learn? What's going to maybe be the key here? Maybe some shots you're not used to.

ROSE ZHANG: Links golf is definitely very different from the states. It's wide open, and fairways are quite narrow. It's just there's no trees. Wind plays a huge factor into this course. Also, just links golf in general, the best thing that you can do is avoid bunkers, and I'm sure that's what everyone is going to try to do this week, and just go from there.

You have to hit a lot of knockdown shots, especially when the wind picks up. It's just a lot of lowball and putting from off the greens, just simple things to bump it up.

RACHEL HECK: And creativity.

ROSE ZHANG: Yes.