BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 25, 2022

Emma Talley

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Emma Talley, a 2&1 win over Jennifer Kupcho. We were talking earlier. You said you went all out there on the front nine.

EMMA TALLEY: Yes.

Q. Tell us about the first nine holes and how solid you were playing.

EMMA TALLEY: Yeah, I really game out strong and that really helped the day, set the tone for myself. Obviously Jen is a really good player and that gave me some confidence in the first few holes.

I think I shot 5- or 6-under on the front nine which, man, I would take that any day. Yeah, I came out strong and that really helped the back nine.

Q. The back nine Jennifer tighten it back up. You made the turn 4-up. She got it never closer than 2-up, but maybe a little closer than you would've liked?

EMMA TALLEY: For sure. I was trying to keep the gas pedal down but I let a couple go on 10 and 11. Like I said, I'm playing good golf, refreshed after a week off, and excited to keep playing.

Q. What is it about match play that really seems -- I mean, you're always smiley, but from USGA, amateur, NCAA days, to now, what is it about match play that really seems to suit you?

EMMA TALLEY: Yeah, I really do. I was telling my dad I love match play. I'm not sure what it is. I'm very competitive. It kind of gets me in a good frame of mind of like every hole is a new hole. Instead of keeping score you're trying to win every single hole.

I need to get that perspective in stroke play. We can work on that after the week is over.

Q. Have you ever played Shadow Creek before this week?

EMMA TALLEY: I have not played Shadow Creek before. This is my first -- I didn't get to play last year, so first experience. It's a wonderful golf course. The green contours are amazing. I don't know who designed this course, but absolutely incredible golf course. Very hard.

Q. How do you explain first competitive round on such a hard course?

EMMA TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, it was great. I played, like I said, really well. I kind of did something I usually don't do. Last night I looked at where all the pins were and kind of made a game plan just because then you don't have to constantly be thinking when you get up there, because you got think around this golf course.

So like I said, I played really well today. Hopefully that continues.

Q. How much are you focusing on your opponent? Are you watching what Jennifer is doing or just in the zone there at the beginning?

EMMA TALLEY: I think a little bit of both. Obviously if someone knocks it close you're trying to stick it closer, those kinds of things.

For the most part when you're playing well you just kind of go with it and see how many birdies you can make. You never know when it can change. Just like Jen made two birdies on the back nine. You just never know when it's going to flip.

You just got to keep going and not pay attention to the scorecards.

Q. What do you think you learned today that you'll use the rest of the week?

EMMA TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, I think it's great to get one tournament run under my belt out here since it's the first time playing. I feel very confident in my game right now. I've been working really hard the last six months.

I think just keep on doing what I'm doing. I need to work on the green speeds a little bit and we'll see it tomorrow.

Q. You're playing with Stacy Lewis tomorrow, the Solheim Cup captain. Yesterday she mentioned she would be doing a little scouting. Does that make you nervous? Are you excited to play with her and potentially impress her?

EMMA TALLEY: Yeah, sure. Of course. Stacy has been a mentor to me for a long time. When I was turned pro she took me out to dinner, her and her husband, and sat me down and gave me the ins and outs. The whole goal this year was to get on Solheim Cup. I'm pretty far out right now, but like I said, I feel good about my game.

Excited to play against her and hopefully beat the captain. (Laughter.)

Q. When you won NCAAs, was it match play yet or...

EMMA TALLEY: It was not. Well, I don't know how it works now, but when played it was all stroke play for the individual title and then it turned into match play after that. So it was just individual when I won that.

Q. You're still a national champion. What is it like watching the NCAAs going on right now, the finals and seeing that next generation? What memories does to bring back for you?

EMMA TALLEY: It's so good. I loved college golf so much. Go Bama, Roll Tide. But it was incredible. College golf is the best. If you've never been on really a team all year round, and playing with the girls that want to beat you every single day just makes you better.

I think we have seven girls on tour on the LPGA from the teams I played on, so we were really strong. The men's team was really strong when I was there.

And you really can't get better than Alabama. It was amazing.

Q. Speaking of the men's team, JT winning last week. I know you're really good friends. Did you reach out to him at all and do you take any inspiration -- it's been a while between wins for him -- what he's pushed through?

EMMA TALLEY: Yeah. Funny enough I was watching the last round, and I usually don't do this, but I listened to everything he said until he literally walked off the camera. I look at Patrick, my fiancée, and said, man, this gives me so much motivation.

Because up until when we turned pro we were doing the same things, you know, and I think he has 15 wins now and I have zero, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

But it's great watching him. I got chills watching his family. They're so sweet and it was so exciting to see a Kentucky boy win again.

Q. One last thing. You mentioned you fiance, Patrick. Got a special new thing for the wedding. You got the dress done, the plans done. You just seem like you're in a good place right now. How are you feeling?

EMMA TALLEY: Yeah, I think having such a good mindset off the course, it always translates on the course. I'm in a really good place right now off the golf course, and really it's translated.

Like I said, hopefully it keeps going. Very excited to get married and hopefully keep playing good golf.

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