GAINBRIDGE LPGA AT BOCA RIO

January 29, 2022

Stacy Lewis

Boca Rio Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. We're joined by Stacy Lewis after an even par 72. Stacy, I would imagine that feels like a win with the conditions.

STACY LEWIS: If you would have told me even par this morning I would've taken it and not even tee'd off.

Actually probably left a couple out there, but it was hard. I mean, you're playing the wind on putts and you're trying to not fall over and trying to stay in posture. It was a really, really hard day. Just glad to be done.

Q. Just for some of us who maybe didn't venture out too far, that putt on 18, kind of an example of how you were having to read putts throughout the day based on wind?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, that putt on 18 actually goes right, but it's in a right-to-left wind, so you're trying to just guess really, is the wind going to be blowing and how hard when you hit that putt.

I had three or four the those at the end coming in and wasn't able to make any of them. It's really a guessing game on days like today.

Q. Do you remember the last round that resembled winds like this that you played in?

STACY LEWIS: Definitely be a British Open. Even last year we played in some wind at the British Open, but usually -- I did live down here in South Florida, so I have played in winds like this in this area.

But tournament golf, when you got to put a number next to your name, it's a little bit tougher.

Q. How hard was it just pulling clubs today?

STACY LEWIS: You really had to -- you had to go hit golf shots. You couldn't just -- we kind of misjudged a wedge early on and you had to hit a lot of little chippy shots, not full shots. Tried to keep as many shots below the trees as we could.

So even some lay-ups on par-5s; we kind of punched 3-woods down there just to keep them out of the wind. It was just kind of being creative and getting through the day.

Q. I was going to ask you about your experience playing with the high school girls on Wednesday. What was that like for you, to see that in a pro-am and how much did you enjoy the day?

STACY LEWIS: It was awesome. I wish I could have played 18 holes with them, to be honest.

I was definitely not that good in the eight and ninth grade. It's amazing to see the talent and how the girls are getting into it at younger ages and having role models. I'm sure they love Nelly and all the younger girls.

But we had a blast and they were awesome, too.

Q. You said you played in the wind down here. I'm sure you've never played this combination of wind and cold down here.

STACY LEWIS: Yeah.

Q. What did that dynamic do with the wind and the cold added in there?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, you add the cold, cold was probably at least half a club of wind, if not more early on. Half a club, so then if you're into the wind it's two clubs plus two and a half. So you're really just hitting more -- holes are playing longer, shots are playing longer, a little bit harder to turn, harder to move.

But, you know, I played in so many British Opens over the years that it's really pretty similar to that. You just got to be creative and fight through it.

Q. I know there were a few into the wind, but I think 5 and 6, 6 the par-3, and 5 you hit an approach shot right.

STACY LEWIS: Yeah.

Q. Were you a couple clubs on those, because those two holes were directly into the wind I believe?

STACY LEWIS: Yeah, on 5 I was 163 yards and just ripped a 4-iron which is my 185 club. It was perfect.

But then on the next hole it was only playing -- I think it was only play like 156 and I hit kind of a little low little 5-iron in there. Where if you tried to hit 6 hard it's just going to blow it up into the wind.

Like I said, just being creative. You have to play in this stuff a few times to really learn how to do it and how to hit the shots. You can see it a little bit with Nelly today, you know, just trying it hit full shots where maybe needed kind of little ones.

Q. You wouldn't want a steady diet of days like this.

STACY LEWIS: No.

Q. But as a competitor, can you enjoy the challenge of it here and there?

STACY LEWIS: As I get older I need more days like this. If it's hot and nice and sunny Nelly is hitting it 50 by me and it's a different day completely.

As I get older I love days like this.

Q. Last one I have for you: How much of a good score is based off experience on a day like today?

STACY LEWIS: Experience is everything, experience and attitude. You know, if you go into it with, I don't want to be here, the score is going to show.

So you just try to have a good attitude about it and not complain too much and just keep fighting through it.

Q. Survive and advance.

STACY LEWIS: That's right.