THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 31, 2022

Lauren Stephenson

Mission Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here about Lauren Stephenson, a quality first round out here at The Chevron Championship. Take me through lieu how you're feeling after day one.

LAUREN STEPHENSON: I feel great. Had a fun walk this morning. Really enjoyed the conditions. Played some really solid golf. I went bogey-free, so can't complain when that happens.

Feel really good about the day.

Q. You started off hot with the two birdies in a row. What was going right on Nos. 1 and 2?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: I put myself in good position. I had two wedges in my hand, so I had two kind of short looks at birdie. Sometimes on the first hole you want to take it easy, but I was like, I need to go ahead and try to make this one.

So it's always nice to start off with positive momentum.

Q. You were talking about Golf Channel this is one of your favorite courses. What's it like returning to this place and being able to he see the conditions the way that they are?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: You just feel so lucky when you know you're coming here, and especially this year for the last time. It's just enjoying these last walks. It's such a special course.

I don't know what exactly makes it so special. The conditions are amazing and the views and all the people are amazing, but it's just such a fun place that I think every single player enjoys coming to, and we all feel so grateful to be here.

Q. What's that major championship the mindset like for you that differs from a week to week basis?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: I think major championships it's easier to stay steady, it's easier to stay positive, to stay patient. It's easier to do out those things because you know -- I mean, except for Kupcho today -- you know no one is usually running away with it.

So it's tough shots or tough holes, the mindset for me is a little bit easier to manage versus I know I have to shoot 9-under every day.

Q. I know you said Kupcho with a strong lead, but you still being able to finish bogey-free, how important is that for you as you head into Friday?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: Yeah, it's so important to me. I didn't chip one time today, so I had the few greens I missed. I was just putting off the fringes, so I know my ball striking is there.

I know if I could've holed a few more putts could have been 8-under. Really happy with the round and taking the good vibes into tomorrow.

Q. And one last one. You talked about a little bit of your major mentality. One of the times we have seen you in contention was the T-9 finish to the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. How much do you take away from an experience like that that you think can help you in this kind of moment?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: I mean, any time you're playing well in a major or any tournament it just gives you confidence. That's what it's all about out here. At the end of the day you got to believe in yourself, and no one can believe in you for you.

You got to step up to the tee and know that you can play. I think that's the key to having good finishes, is just building that confidence.

Q. What do you love the most about this place?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: I don't know. I was just saying it's so amazing, but it's like everything is amazing. Conditions, course, people here are amazing, the community. Just everything about this tournament and surrounding this course is just like happiness.

You just feel so lucky to be here.

Q. What traditions do you hope carry on?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: Definitely jumping in the pond. That's a special one for us. So I think that's something like as a little girl you watch and you want to like replicate that.

But I'm sure that they could somehow carry that over. Maybe it's not Poppie's Pond, but at least could be a similar tradition. But all the history here, too, just you can feel it when you're walking around. It's just really special.