BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 26, 2022

Jennifer Kupcho

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Jennifer Kupcho after her second round at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play presented by MGM Rewards. That was a crazy match but you came out on top. How does it feel to get that first win of the tournament?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, it feels good. I mean, the front nine was definitely back and forth a lot. I think especially right now it really -- the wind really picked up on the back nine for us. And, I mean, even now I think it's going to be windy the rest of the day as well as tomorrow.

It kind of sees who's the better -- you kind of have to miss where you think you can get up and down and then you have to have your short game. I think that was a big thing for me. I hit some pretty good short game shots on the back nine.

Q. And so that was the key to that turn around as you made the turn? What were you thinking knowing the front nine was a challenge?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I went out there and kept trying to hit good shots and not getting too frustrated when I missed the green. I mean, it seriously is impossible to hit some of the greens, so you just have to accept it and move on.

Q. And with the conditions, I know you mentioned the wind already. It's also a little hot out here. How were you battling both those challenges?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Well, the breeze was a little nice for the heat, and being from Phoenix, honestly, this isn't too bad.

But it was nice to have the breeze in the heat. Yeah, it wasn't too bad.

Q. Playing with Lauren, did you find her to be a good competitor? I know you guys, like you said, went back and forth. How do you enjoy playing with her, another young player like you?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, Lauren is a great player. We have been on Curtis Cup together, been on American teams together, played together. She's a great competitor. She never quits, I know that for a fact.

Just had to keep that in the back of my mind all day. Yeah, she's a really great player.

Q. We've been talking all week about this grouping in particular being sort of a Solheim grouping with Stacy Lewis, who you'll play tomorrow. Are you looking forward to that matchup and to show off your skills in front of the captain?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I don't really think too much of it. I wouldn't say I'm close friends with her, but we're very nice to each other of she's a great player.

We're very similar in a lot of ways. Have a little bit of an anger thing going on, so it'll be interesting to play with her.

Yeah, she's a really great player and really nice person, so...

Q. Can you elaborate on anger thing? What do you mean?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, we both get upset with ourselves. We are probably two of the most out here that really show it outside of our body.

I think she appreciates that of me and I definitely appreciate there is someone I can relate to.

Q. Last question from me. Going into this match you didn't have a point after losing a round yesterday. Does that put any more pressure on you to play well? How are you feeling after yesterday?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I mean, going into the round I know I have to win pretty much. But, yeah, I just went out there and just tried to play my best.

I mean, Emma played really good yesterday, so I couldn't really control that. I didn't play bad golf. It's really just like going out there and playing, and sometimes you just can't win; someone is playing really well.

Q. Similar to what you just answered, but looks look your whole group is going to be one and one going into tomorrow, so your knock-out rounds essentially start.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah.

Q. Does that change your approach at all?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Not really. I mean, yeah, it's going to be exciting. All of us are going to be playing. I mean, that's kind of how it should be, I think, is having every match count.

So, yeah, I'm excited.

Q. (Regarding four-way playoff.)

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, who knows. We'll see.

Q. Switch topics. As an American player and a Solheim Cup player, I don't know if you heard about Michelle Wie announcing her retirement.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I did. I just saw it, yeah.

Q. Do you have any reaction to her and what she's meant to you as a young American player?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I mean, she has a lot of pull in everything in women's golf. She's done great for women's golf and she's going to continue growing the game.

Reading what I could have her post -- it was kind of a quick glance; I didn't get to finish it -- but, yeah, she's going to continue doing great things for women's golf.

I think that's great for her. I know that's kind of her love, so I think she'll be really good at it.

Q. See seems like she's got the credentials to be a Solheim Cup captain somewhere down the road; is that something you think she would be good at?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah. I mean, she's die-hard USA for sure. Being on the team with her last year, being an assistant captain, she's all about it. I think, yeah, she would be a great captain.

Q. As you played on the Solheim Cup last year, what do you think of this match play format, especially before a big tournament like the U.S. Women's Open next week?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think it's great. Match play, it kind of mixes up and kind of really -- I think it really evens out the playing field honestly. I think it's really fun.

I don't know if it's definitely the best preparation for a U.S. Open format-wise, but I think Shadow Creek as a golf course, the greens are hard, fast, just like a U.S. Open is. It's usually pretty long.

So I think the course itself is a really good setup for getting prepared for U.S. Open.

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