AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 2, 2022

Rachel Kuehn

Quick Quotes

RACHEL KUEHN: What a special golf course. We get to see it every year with the guys, but to go out there and play it myself and hit some good golf shots, it was really cool.

Q. I asked Sean about the most people you have ever played in front of. This is it, right? How nervous were you, or were you okay?

RACHEL KUEHN: I was very nervous. Definitely the most people I've played in front of. Got on the first tee, and I turned around and Annika Sorenstam sat there, and I thought, oh, my gosh, I have to hit the fairway. Didn't hit the fairway, but it really is so cool to see so many people out here supporting women's golf. It's just incredible. I think it's a testament to what Augusta is doing where.

Q. What was the key for you today? You got off to a good start, obviously.

RACHEL KUEHN: I was able to put a couple close and roll some putts in early, and after that my speed kind of came naturally, and I was able to just kind of relax and play comfortable out there.

Q. Emilia kind of did a similar thing last year where she went out not necessarily as you did, but went out and put a good number out there. Were you thinking of that, and do you feel like you had a advantage going out?

RACHEL KUEHN: No, I wasn't really thinking about it. I think I was going out and just enjoying it. It's not very often that you get to play Augusta National, so you go out and enjoy the walk and the scenery and get to hear the stories from my caddie about all the players he's caddied for and all the shots he has seen hit. It was just fun.

Q. You birdied the last two to get inside the cut and then you go out and birdie three in a row. Did that give you confidence to have that strong start to get inside the cut line here?

RACHEL KUEHN: I definitely think I had a little momentum. It was nice to see a couple go in towards the end of the round yesterday, and then to see a couple go in early just lets you breath a little bit when you get on the golf course because you get on the first tee, and you are nervous and shaking and you knock in a three-footer on the first hole to get up and down, and you exhale. Then you get to hit the next tee shot. It was really cool, and it was nice to get off to a good start today.

Q. What's a finish like that do for you as a player?

RACHEL KUEHN: I think it's definitely -- gives me a little bit of confidence. You have the best 75 girls in the world here, and it's an incredibly hard cut to make, so to be able to go out and finish birdie-birdie yesterday and make the cut, and just the opportunity to play here on Saturday is incredible. Then to throw out a good number today is something I know I'll hold close to my heart forever.

Q. What's your best moment?

RACHEL KUEHN: I hit a really good 5 iron on 15. Ended up just over the green. It was one of those where I was really nervous. I was, like, you sure this will clear, Sean? He said, yeah, yeah, it will clear. Just flushed it right over the flag. I liked that shot, and I hit a good wedge into 7 as well.

Q. Can you walk us through the tee shot on 12? I know the practice round you also got in a bunker, but it looked like you thought that you hit a perfect shot.

RACHEL KUEHN: I thought I had the right club in my hand. I actually did have the right club in my hand. I was just aimed too far right for that. Should have taken it at the front left, and I ended up in the bunker on the down slope. Hit a good bunker shot. Didn't get up and down, but bogeys are going to happen, so that's okay.

Q. What club?

RACHEL KUEHN: 9 iron.

Q. Probably should have used an 8?

RACHEL KUEHN: I think it was a 9 iron. I think I needed to go further left. I needed to go to the left front part of the green.

Q. What about the tradition of Jen winning and Emelia in the playoff. Does that make it nice for you just to know that that tradition is in already?

RACHEL KUEHN: Absolutely. I think I remember sitting at home watching Jen Kupcho finish and win, and it was just incredible. So inspiring. Then to be teammates with Emilia and to see her finish runner up, it's again incredible. We had four girls here who were all so excited to be out here, and it's just incredible to know that Wake has shown up at this tournament, and hopefully we'll continue to do so.

Q. Did you hear from Will or Webb or any of those guys at all?

RACHEL KUEHN: No, but that's okay. If they want to give me any tips for next year, I'll take that.

Q. When you started to get on the run this morning, did you start to think, hey, if I go post a number, who knows what's going on here? Did that enter your mind at some point?

RACHEL KUEHN: I think I was just enjoying it. It's fun when you are hitting golf shots, and they're actually going where you want them to, which didn't happen very often, but to do it where I have seen golf shots hit on TV countless times and then to see putts go in the hole, it's a really cool feeling on. On these greens they're so pure. You hit a putt, and it ends up exactly where you expect it to end up because the greens are just so perfect.

Yeah, I think I made three birdies, and I just put it close to the next hole and kept on trucking.

Q. Where does this tournament fit into the hierarchy of women's golf now?

RACHEL KUEHN: It's incredible. Obviously, it's one of if not the best amateur events in the world. I would compare it to the U.S. Amateur. It's different because it's not match-play, but we get to play two amazing courses, and they invite the top 75 girls in the world. At what other field do you get to play genuinely the best field in the world?

Q. Rachel, you talked about your wedge on 7. What was your target on that? Were you trying to take it just over the flag and bring it back?

RACHEL KUEHN: Just long left was the hope and to use that slope. I didn't see it, but where it pitched, I think that's what it did. Then I had a putt. I told, Sean, is this going to go right? Absolutely not, it is dead straight. I was like, okay. That was kind of the theme all day. He told me where to hit, and I said yes, Sean, and hit it right there.

Q. You've had him before. You have a pretty good rapport with him?

RACHEL KUEHN: He caddied for me last year. He is incredible. He just keeps me loose and knows the golf course like nobody else. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing caddie.

Q. Did it help that you had played here last year to be able to do what you did this morning?

RACHEL KUEHN: I think so. I think every time you get to see the golf course, you get to know it better. Coming out and getting to play last year. Didn't make the cut last year, but got to see the golf course and got to see it again yesterday, but you learn little things about it and appreciating a lot more about it every time you play it.

Q. What day did you enjoy more? Last year on Friday or this year?

RACHEL KUEHN: I think I was exhausted this year because we had just come from Champions Retreat, so I was kind of dragging the last couple of holes, but that doesn't make it any less special. I don't know if I can compare the two.

Q. How was your energy level today once you got towards the end of the round?

RACHEL KUEHN: It was great. I think it's really cool hitting these shots, and with all the people out here it's an incredible atmosphere. Everyone is supporting. I think it's hard to be tired on Saturday at this tournament with so many people out here and just the course we're playing.

Q. What about tomorrow?

RACHEL KUEHN: So tomorrow could be a little tiring. I think kind of you come off a high from a tournament, and you just kind of exhale a little bit, and you don't touch the clubs. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to going back to Wake and getting ready for postseason.

Thank you.