NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 26, 2021

Minjee Lee

Pinnacle Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. More than just to have a chance there at 18, talk about your whole week, three days of play.

MINJEE LEE: I think overall I was really solid all three days. I mean, today I missed a couple birdie opportunities that I probably should have made.

You know, under the circumstances Nasa did play really well today. Yeah, I mean, I'm just a little disappointed with my shot on 18, but I still had a great week.

Q. When she rolled her first putt about 15 feet past the hole, did you think maybe you had a chance there?

MINJEE LEE: You know, I just was focusing on my putt, trying to hole it. I thought I had it, but just turned at the end.

No, I didn't really think about it too much.

Q. Talk about your birdie at 17 and how that got you within one shot.

MINJEE LEE: You know, I just hit a good shot off the tee --

Q. What club did you hit?

MINJEE LEE: I hit 8-iron. Uh-huh. No, it was a great birdie. I was happy to make a birdie on the 18th, but --

Q. It is what it is.

MINJEE LEE: Yep.

Q. Talk about all three days. Is this a course that sets up well for your game? It's more of a links style. Is that something that you think suits your game better?

MINJEE LEE: No, I think -- you mean like this course in particular?

Q. Yes.

MINJEE LEE: I think it's a ball-striker's golf course. Good iron play is really key around here, and just wedge play, because there is a couple shorter holes.

So I think it does suit well. It suits my eye as well, but does suit my game I think.

Q. What do you learn from these moments?

MINJEE LEE: You know, all day I was like -- I was thinking about like the missed putts that I had, and coming into the back nine I just -- I was like, Oh, I would like to get to 16-under, which was my goal for the back nine.

So I got to 15 so I was close. But, you know, I think in this situation I still did play well. Maybe next time I'll get on the green on the 18th hole, on my second shot.

Q. This is going to haunt you for a couple days, huh?

MINJEE LEE: No. I mean, I get over it pretty quickly. There is so many more positives than negatives out of this week.

No, I'm actually leaving on a very, very I mean, positive note.

Q. You've had some real -- like today obviously, Evian and the playoff when you won, you've had some real competitive moments I would say this year.

MINJEE LEE: Yeah.

Q. Does it bring out the best in you even though you didn't come out on top today?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, definitely. I think play under pressure is where I belong, so this is where I excel, and hopefully have a lot more times that I'm wire to wire and it can bring the best out of me.

Q. I feel like there is a lot of tournaments where players have a real amazing track record; you have that here.

MINJEE LEE: Uh-huh.

Q. Do you feel like it's just a matter of time before you feel like it's your time here?

MINJEE LEE: You know, yes. I think I'm very close. But, you know, it's only a three-day tournament, so you really got to be aggressive, and as some of the girls said, it's not a marathon, it's a sprint.

Yeah, I think one of those years it's going to be my week.

Q. Last one for you: How much does, in your own perspective, a three-day event change your analysis of a course or game plan?

MINJEE LEE: I think coming into the week you're always like, It's a three-day tournament, so you really need to have a good start.

I think for me, like coming into this golf course it was playing really soft so I was trying to make birdie on every hole, which was sort of my mindset.

But, you know, actually the conditions were quite tough today, quite windy, the windiest I've ever played this golf course.

Yeah, a lot of the girls I think had really quite low scores and I'm surprised that they went that low. But, you know, I mean, it's a three-day tournament. That's what happens.