THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 3, 2022

Jennifer Kupcho

Mission Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: This one never gets old. Happy to welcome in our 2022 Chevron Championship winner, Jennifer Kupcho. Jennifer, I know it hasn't been very long, it probably hasn't sunk in yet, but what's going through your head when I say major winner?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: That me? Yeah, I think it's surreal. To be a major winner is really special, and to be the last person here at Mission Hills to jump into Poppie's Pond, it's all really special.

Q. Beginning of the day you started out with a six-stroke lead. Certainly were well clear of the field most of the day. Ended up just being a two-shot advantage. What was going through your mind throughout the day? Were you coming in with a par is my friend mentality, or what was the thought process?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Honestly, I came out just trying to shoot a couple under. I mean, I had a six-stroke lead and I shot 8-under yesterday, so I figured if someone can do that, then they deserve to be in a playoff.

That was my mentality and what I was fighting for all day. Obviously didn't get there, but still pulled it out.

Q. You had a bunch of birdies on the card but a handful bogeys, too. As you were coming down the stretch with the bogey on 17, what was going through your mind as you stepped to the 18th tee?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Just hit it somewhere up in the fairway, not in the water, and then lay it up. I never really even thought about going for it. I mean, even yesterday as well.

So I mean, after 17 I knew all I had to do was make par or bogey.

Q. You had a great battle today with Patty. You had the fans supporting you. Overall what was that experience hearing everything going on around you, the support of Lizette and Emma and Sarah and all the caddies coming out to see you there on 18?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It's special. Honestly, I think one of the biggest things I've fought over the last year and a half is everyone is out here cheering for Nelly our Lexi or someone else I'm playing with. I don't every hear, Go, Jennifer.

That was really special today, to have that. To have my caddie and his friends and all of my friends out here supporting me, it's really special.

Q. When Sarah and Jay were done, Jay got interviewed on the telecast and you could tell he was emotional. What was it like when you saw him coming across the bridge to give you that hug?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I didn't see him coming across the bridge. But, yeah, he picked me up. I don't think he's ever picked me up, so that was pretty cool.

Yeah, I could definitely tell he was emotional when I did look at him.

Q. Last question from me: That's a jump that I think ever little girl who has played this game has thought about. Did you know what you were going to do? Had you thought about your plan for jumping in?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: No, I had not. That was my biggest thing coming into today was not get too far ahead of myself, take it one shot at a time, and not thinking about it.

It really came up close. I had no idea we were going then, so I just sent it.

Q. You made it in. That's what counts.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah.

Q. Congratulations. With the exception of the trophy currently sitting next to you, how are you different now than you were a year ago?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think I've matured a lot in the last year, and even since I've been out here. But I think my putting has got a lot better. I've been able to calm myself down a lot better.

Obviously I still have my spurts of anger, but I think that's how I get it out quickly and then move on. I think my whole mental game has gotten stronger.

Q. Where do you think that started to take place, that maturity level?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think once I started putting myself in contention and not succeeding, I really worked with my swing coach. He's also really good with the mental game.

So just talking to him a lot about what's going through my mind all the time and trying to figure out how to process my way through that.

Q. You are the first woman to win At Augusta National, the last person to win at Mission Hills. Have you had a chance to reflect on your spot in golf history?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It certainly has a special place. I mean, it's surreal to be able to say that I was the last person here and first person at Augusta.

Hopefully that isn't a continuing pattern, because we aren't stopping in a lot of places soon. So hopefully I just keep playing, and it's really exciting to be able to say that I was the last.

Q. After the 14th, it was a two-stroke lead there for a couple minutes. What did you do to regather yourself before the 15th?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Just took a couple deep breaths. I think once I got to the 15th fairway -- actually two years ago I had the same exact front and pin number and holed it, so to be able to have that, that's what I thought about, and I think that is what made me hit such a good shot into 15.

Then I was able to just coast in.

Q. What were you thinking about as you saw the past champions take the leap into the pond?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: That was pretty cool. I didn't know what was happening. That was awesome to see them all go in again. That's really cool.

Q. I know it was a while out there going through all the interviews, what memory stands out the most right now from all the fans surrounding the 18th?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think all of them cheering me on, and really to just be able to quickly after my wedding be able to celebrate with my husband and have him here. It's really special.

Q. I'm curious if you didn't even think about practicing your jump way before this as a kid? Like I want to do that some time?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: No, I have not.

Q. Okay. So was it anything like you thought it would be?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I haven't really -- I never had really thought about it, honestly. Yeah, I mean, you're always walking down that row on the way to 18 in the practice rounds and you're like, wow, that would be really cool.

I think specifically for myself, I just tried not to get ahead of myself and think about what would I do. I just have never been that type of person, so...

Q. So now you're going to go home and watch it on video and see how you did, right?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah. Hopefully it looks okay.

Q. Got a whole bunch of girls back here in pink visors who are really excited to meet with you.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah.

Q. That's got to make you feel good. How cool is it to see this next generation? You once were that girl out watching golf, now to be in your shoes in front of this crowd.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It's amazing. I mean, I'm sure they watch -- actually, I'm not sure. They're really young. I'm not sure they watched Augusta, but to be able to start with Augusta and now say that -- I mean, they're out here watching me. I mean, we're just out here doing our job to bring up the next generation.

Q. How easy has it been now for you to embrace the Augusta National thing? I know you got asked about it a lot the first couple years and it may not have been something you wanted to talk about. Now you seem to really have embraced it. When did that come around?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think -- I'm not sure I've actually embraced it, but I think I started to become more okay with it when I started getting closer to winning out here.

I think that's the biggest thing about it all, was I keep getting asked about this Augusta three years later. It's like, have you not seen what I've been doing out here?

I've really wanted to -- not this Augusta is not special, but now I'm a major champion. To add that to the list is something I've been wanting for a few years now.

THE MODERATOR: Well, congratulations. You are a major champion. Enjoy this. (Applause.)