DIO IMPLANT LA OPEN

April 20, 2022

Jennifer Kupcho

Wilshire Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome inside the virtual media center at the DIO Implant LA Open.

Pleased to be joined by the most recent LPGA Tour major champion, Jennifer Kupcho.

I will start first. You played Hawaii after winning The Chevron Championship. Just what have the last few weeks been like for you?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Very tiring. Yeah, I mean, going Hawaii I normally probably would've withdrawn honestly, but I already had the flights and it's kind of a vacation spot anyway, so I said I might as well just play.

But I'm still definitely recovering from it. I'm very tired.

Q. How many reached out to you since your win and have you been able to reflect upon what that week was like for you?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, tons. I mean, I think after the fact I had like 150 text messages unread, but it's been great. It's unreal.

Yeah, to say I'm a major champion is really cool.

Q. Now, I know to go from that and then take a little bit of rest, but then Hawaii, back at it, to come away with a top 20 finish, T18 in Hawaii, what did that mean to you to keep that momentum rolling?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It was really hard out there in Hawaii. The course was really hard. Yeah, it was a grind. Going out there I was in a mindset of just go out and play, but I kind of flipped the switch after the first nine holes of the tournament and really turned on to a grind, and that's what it was.

Q. I know one of the things for some of our players when they win that major championship is hearing major champion on the tee. Did you get that in Hawaii? Did you feel different stepping up to the first tee in Hawaii?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I actually didn't get it. I haven't felt that yet. Yeah, they didn't say it. They were just announcing hometowns, so...

Q. Oh. Maybe we'll see what we can do. For you, what did you learn about your game coming from Hawaii, and were you proud of the way you were able to battle the winds out there?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I generally hit the ball really well, so that's the struggle in the wind out there. Also to be able to putt in the wind, I think especially when I go over to like Scotland, Europe it's all very windy.

So to be able to go out there and putt really well and play good enough to take a top 20, it's really encouraging.

Q. LA Open; you played for the first time in 2021. It's your only appearance here at Wilshire. What's it been like getting used to this course?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I really like this golf course. I mean, playing it last year I have good memories. I don't remember what place I took, but I know I played pretty well.

I mean, it's good memories. LA in general kind of stresses me out with all the traffic and everything, but, yeah, the golf course is great and the environment out here is really great, too.

Q. Hello Jennifer. Congratulations again.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Thank you.

Q. You talked about how tired you are. What do you do to get your energy back? How do you change your routine?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Honestly, I don't really change it that much. I think really just sleeping a lot. I'm pretty good at that anyway, so, yeah, really just sleeping a lot and really taking it easy off the course.

Q. Were you able to have any kind of parties back home or anything in the week after you won?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I got together with a few friends for a couple of game nights. I really like playing games, so that was kind of my party.

Then I did go out to a bar that night just to have some drinks with some people out here on tour.

Q. What did you play? What are your games of choice?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Mostly cards I would say, but, I mean, just like -- I don't know. Like we play Catan a lot, but I don't think we played that. I don't know if you know what that is.

But mostly card games, I would say.

Q. Congratulations once again on your first victory and first major championship win. My question is this: The last few months have been a bit of a roll for you, everything from your wedding to winning that championship. What changes have you made, if any, to prepare for a tournament?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, thank you, first off. And I think one of the biggest things is, yeah, it has been a really crazy time for me planning a wedding and still planning a wedding reception right now.

It's a lot of like adult life things that I'm doing off the course, so I think I really like maximize my time at the course. I honestly don't chat around with all the other girls. I get here, get my work done, and then I leave so that I can be able to do all the other things that I need to do as well.

Q. Wilshire is a different kind of golf course compared to what you've seen so far on tour this season. How does that pose a challenge for you in terms of, say, green size? Does it suit your game? What are you seeing out there?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Honestly, I don't really think it's -- I personally don't think it's that different. I mean, a golf course is a golf course. They all have their quirks to them. I hit the ball pretty well, so even if the green size is small I'm usually pretty well on target.

So I'm not -- I don't really think about it that way.

Q. Okay. Thank you very much, and play well this week.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Thank you.

Q. You talked about things you're doing off the course. Wedding reception in Colorado?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: No, actually in Arizona as well. We just split them up so we can get married quicker but still be able to have the celebration part of it.

Q. Nice. We're getting into a swing of things sure back-to-back LA events. You said it's a little stressful with traffic and stuff, but what's it mean to not really have to go that far next week to Palos Verdes?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It's awesome. Honestly, I'm super excited to go to Palos Verdes. Although it is technically still LA, I have a really great host family from when I played a college event there, so I'm really excited and it's going to feel like home I think.

Q. I was just curious if your overriding sense having won not only a tournament, but a major, do you feel a sense of relief that you have that under your belt more, or is it more added confidence? Which is the bigger feeling?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I would say probably confidence. I mean, being able to say that I've won and like that I can compete out here -- obviously I already knew that I could compete, but I think being able to win is really important.

Like that's what I've done all in college. Like I won a lot, so my confidence was low coming out here and not having won in two or three years. To be able to say I won, I think it's definitely a confidence booster.

Q. I know you say you don't chitchat too much, but does it feel different walking around amongst your peers that you're a major champion now, at least to you?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Not really. I mean, yeah, you get a lot of congrats from everybody, but, I mean, I always did that to every one else. Anyone that wins you kind of say congrats. That's awesome.

But I don't really feel different, no.

Q. Did you watch any highlights or rewind of your jump?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I did watch the video, yes, of the jump.

Q. How do you rate it? Were you pleased?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, it was good. I mean, it was a little different because I was not -- I didn't know we were doing it so quickly so I didn't really have time to think about it. I was like, oh, what am I doing? But it turned out well, so that's good. (Laughter.)

Q. Couple things: What would you say has been the biggest perk so far having won a major?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I don't know. I don't really know. I think honestly like one of the coolest things is being able to get a Rolex. I think that's pretty cool being a first-time winner.

Q. You got that as part of winning the tournament or you have a partnership with them?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: No. It's part of the LPGA. Every first-time winner gets a Rolex watch, yeah.

Q. And have you allowed yourself to kind of think ahead to the rest of the majors this year and just kind of look at the courses and the timing, or are you one week at a time?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Definitely one week at a time. I've said before I don't really go into a major thinking anything different. I prepare the same exact way I do every other event, even though it is a bigger are purse and everything. If you put more pressure on it you're just not going to play well.

Q. Did you feel more pressure on the back nine at the Augusta National Women's Amateur or The Chevron Championship? What were the nerves like in those two very different events?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Definitely in The Chevron, mostly because I think I had such a big lead that I was like, Don't mess up. And I think at Augusta I was two back going into the 13 so I was kind of chasing. Obviously I eagled that hole and kind of made it up there.

But, yeah, it was a little bit different mindset because I think I'm better as a chaser versus as a leader.

Q. There was a similar situation at Augusta with Scottie Scheffler going out with a big lead. Just wondered if you happened to watch Sunday of the Masters and if you could relate?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I think I -- yeah, I was playing a practice round during it so I was kind of watching it. I definitely had it pulled up on my phone and I was handing my phone to my caddie every single shot.

Yeah, I definitely could relate. I thought it was kind of funny when he four-putted the last hole. Definitely relate. I didn't four-putt, but I three-putted -- wait, one, two -- no, I did four -- I don't know. Whatever. It was very relatable when he four-putted.

Q. And he still won. Perfect.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yep.

THE MODERATOR: All right, that will do it for us here. Thank you, and best of luck this week.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Thank you.